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<p>RICHMOND — Virginia Baptists increased their support last week for a variety of state, national and international ministries — and for the second year in a row persuaded their budget committee to modify its proposal because of concerns about funding for educational institutions.</p>
<p>Meeting in Richmond Nov 13-14, messengers at the annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia also elected a slate of officers who ran unopposed — continuing two decades of wins by candidates endorsed by the advocacy group Virginia Baptists Committed or the loose-knit organization of moderates that preceded it.</p>
<p />
<p>Alice Rusher</p>
<p>New BGAV officers are Joe Lewis, president; Jeff Bloomer, first vice president; Fred Anderson, clerk; and Pat Bloxom, second vice president.</p>
<p>About 1,010 messengers and 190 visitors registered for the two-day meeting at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Three sermons by Lance Watson, pastor of the predominately African-American St. Paul's Baptist Church in Richmond, highlighted the growing racial diversity of the traditionally white BGAV — reflected in a lively worship service Tuesday night led by a mass choir from St. Paul's. Other worship leaders were Ken Medema, a well-known singer and composer; Re:Creations, a two-person drama team from Bluefield College whose appearances at BGAV meetings have become traditional; and a handbell choir from one of HopeTree Family Services' developmental disabilities homes in Fredericksburg.</p>
<p>Joe Lewis, pastor of Second Baptist Church in Petersburg, was elected president in one of several brief — and almost discussion-free — business sessions, which included the approval of a $14,360,000 budget for 2008 and adoption of resolutions on the New Baptist Covenant, payday lenders and the shootings at Virginia Tech last April.</p>
<p />
<p>Alice Rusher</p>
<p>Lance Watson</p>
<p>The $14,360,000 budget for 2008 is $160,000 more than this year's. A new feature includes a reduction in direct allocations to the BGAV's affiliated academies and colleges while adding scholarship allocations to each of the institutions. In addition, a newly-created student and ministry formation scholarship fund will assist students financially at any college or seminary.</p>
<p>The change was initiated by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board's emerging leaders subcommittee, which named a task force to study the issue, and was developed in conversations among key leaders of the Mission Board and the budget committee.</p>
<p>“The key question is, Do we want to continue to support institutional entities or do we want to support individual students as we look to the future?” according to a FAQ sheet distributed by the student scholarship study committee. “Instead of answering this question with an either/or response, we want to answer it with a both/and response. The BGAV wants to remain strong partners with our schools and academies, but also expand our support to students who choose to receive their education in other colleges or universities. We want to emphasize our support for the next generation of future leaders of Virginia Baptists.”</p>
<p />
<p>Alice Rusher</p>
<p>Messengers listen to reports in the Greater Richmond Convention Center.</p>
<p>However, messengers balked at the reductions for the John Leland Center for Theological Studies, a BGAV-affiliated seminary in McLean, whose allocation would have been reduced from $165,000 to $100,000. After hearing concerns raised in a budget breakout session the day before the budget vote, the budget committee altered its proposal, giving both Leland and Bluefield College, another BGAV school which was slated for reductions, direct allocations of $140,000 each, with the possibility of another $10,000 each in student scholarships. Over the next five years, the scholarships are expected to be increased to a total of $50,000 each.</p>
<p>It was the second year in a row messenger concerns have prompted a budget change. Last year, a successful motion from the floor increased funding for Bluefield from $142,000 to $307,000, while reducing allocations to Fork Union Military Academy from $100,000 to $10,000 and to Hargrave Military Academy from $65,000 to $10,000.</p>
<p>The new scholarships will be administered by the Mission Board's ministerial education committee, which will be renamed the BGAV scholarship committee. Priority in awarding scholarships from the new student and ministry formation fund will be given to the BGAV's existing educational partners, followed by historically Baptist educational partners and other public and private colleges and universities approved by the Mission Board.</p>
<p />
<p>Alice Rusher</p>
<p>The launch of Virginia Baptists' new evangelism endeavor, called “670,” drew attention from messengers curious about the unusual name and concept.</p>
<p />
<p>Alice Rusher</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Alice Rusher</p>
<p />
<p>In addition to Lewis, who had been the BGAV's first vice president, other officers elected were Jeff Bloomer of Culpeper, an education administrator and member of Culpeper Baptist Church, and Pat Bloxom of Mappsville, a retired public health nurse and former president of Woman's Missionary Union of Virginia and a member of Mappsville Baptist Church.</p>
<p>The elections continued the BGAV's practices of alternating its one-year, non-renewable presidency between ministers and laypersons, and of elevating the sitting first vice president to the top office.</p>
<p>Also elected was Fred Anderson to his 26th term as BGAV clerk. Anderson, executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society, was elected by acclamation.</p>
<p>The resolution on the New Baptist Covenant encouraged BGAV leaders to continue the participation in the national meeting of Baptists in Atlanta, Jan 31-Feb. 1, while urging it to “honor its promise and pledge for a nonpartisan gathering.” The other resolutions denounced “the payday lending industry and its practice of further impoverishing the poor” and expressed gratitude to the “brothers and sisters who have served so faithfully” in ministering to students and their families affected by the shootings at Virginia Tech.</p>
<p>The tragedy at Virginia Tech — and Virginia Baptists' ministry in Blacksburg following the shootings — also was explored in a video presentation during the Tuesday night worship service, which included comments from Tommy McDearis, pastor of Blacksburg Baptist Church.</p>
<p>Messengers also approved a series of constitutional and bylaw changes recommended by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, which functions as the BGAV's constitution and bylaws committee. Most of the changes were described as an updating of language, though a few amendments were more substantial, including:</p>
<p>• The elimination of the Alma Hunt Offering for State Missions as a basis for a church's messenger representation. Only gifts to the Virginia portion of the budget will provide representation at the annual meeting for a congregation.</p>
<p />
<p>Alice Rusher</p>
<p>Messengers to the Baptist General Association of Virginia gathered to worship around the theme, “Hope Is on the Way.”</p>
<p>• The replacement of the term “Cooperative Program” with the term “Cooperative Missions.” The new term has been in general use for some years, though until now the change was not official. A phrase added to the constitution notes, “Cooperative Missions is Virginia Baptists' long-standing commitment to the Cooperative Program.”</p>
<p>• Giving authority for naming the chair of the BGAV budget committee to the BGAV president only. Previously the bylaws gave that responsibility to the president “and two vice presidents … acting as a committee.”</p>
<p>New mission partnership agreements signed at the meeting highlighted Virginia Baptists growing involvement in national and international ministries. Among them was a revised agreement between the BGAV and Woman's Missionary Union of Virginia, which outlines relations between the two entities. BGAV executive director John Upton said the two have combined four separate agreements which governed the relationship into one document.</p>
<p>Other agreements were signed with the International Baptist Convention, a worldwide fellowship of English-language churches; with the Free State Baptist Association of South Africa; and with Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec, which will increase ties between Virginia Baptists' Latino Network and Hispanics in the two Canadian provinces.</p>
| false | 3 |
richmond virginia baptists increased support last week variety state national international ministries second year row persuaded budget committee modify proposal concerns funding educational institutions meeting richmond nov 1314 messengers annual meeting baptist general association virginia also elected slate officers ran unopposed continuing two decades wins candidates endorsed advocacy group virginia baptists committed looseknit organization moderates preceded alice rusher new bgav officers joe lewis president jeff bloomer first vice president fred anderson clerk pat bloxom second vice president 1010 messengers 190 visitors registered twoday meeting greater richmond convention center three sermons lance watson pastor predominately africanamerican st pauls baptist church richmond highlighted growing racial diversity traditionally white bgav reflected lively worship service tuesday night led mass choir st pauls worship leaders ken medema wellknown singer composer recreations twoperson drama team bluefield college whose appearances bgav meetings become traditional handbell choir one hopetree family services developmental disabilities homes fredericksburg joe lewis pastor second baptist church petersburg elected president one several brief almost discussionfree business sessions included approval 14360000 budget 2008 adoption resolutions new baptist covenant payday lenders shootings virginia tech last april alice rusher lance watson 14360000 budget 2008 160000 years new feature includes reduction direct allocations bgavs affiliated academies colleges adding scholarship allocations institutions addition newlycreated student ministry formation scholarship fund assist students financially college seminary change initiated virginia baptist mission boards emerging leaders subcommittee named task force study issue developed conversations among key leaders mission board budget committee key question want continue support institutional entities want support individual students look future according faq sheet distributed student scholarship study committee instead answering question eitheror response want answer bothand response bgav wants remain strong partners schools academies also expand support students choose receive education colleges universities want emphasize support next generation future leaders virginia baptists alice rusher messengers listen reports greater richmond convention center however messengers balked reductions john leland center theological studies bgavaffiliated seminary mclean whose allocation would reduced 165000 100000 hearing concerns raised budget breakout session day budget vote budget committee altered proposal giving leland bluefield college another bgav school slated reductions direct allocations 140000 possibility another 10000 student scholarships next five years scholarships expected increased total 50000 second year row messenger concerns prompted budget change last year successful motion floor increased funding bluefield 142000 307000 reducing allocations fork union military academy 100000 10000 hargrave military academy 65000 10000 new scholarships administered mission boards ministerial education committee renamed bgav scholarship committee priority awarding scholarships new student ministry formation fund given bgavs existing educational partners followed historically baptist educational partners public private colleges universities approved mission board alice rusher launch virginia baptists new evangelism endeavor called 670 drew attention messengers curious unusual name concept alice rusher alice rusher addition lewis bgavs first vice president officers elected jeff bloomer culpeper education administrator member culpeper baptist church pat bloxom mappsville retired public health nurse former president womans missionary union virginia member mappsville baptist church elections continued bgavs practices alternating oneyear nonrenewable presidency ministers laypersons elevating sitting first vice president top office also elected fred anderson 26th term bgav clerk anderson executive director virginia baptist historical society elected acclamation resolution new baptist covenant encouraged bgav leaders continue participation national meeting baptists atlanta jan 31feb 1 urging honor promise pledge nonpartisan gathering resolutions denounced payday lending industry practice impoverishing poor expressed gratitude brothers sisters served faithfully ministering students families affected shootings virginia tech tragedy virginia tech virginia baptists ministry blacksburg following shootings also explored video presentation tuesday night worship service included comments tommy mcdearis pastor blacksburg baptist church messengers also approved series constitutional bylaw changes recommended virginia baptist mission board functions bgavs constitution bylaws committee changes described updating language though amendments substantial including elimination alma hunt offering state missions basis churchs messenger representation gifts virginia portion budget provide representation annual meeting congregation alice rusher messengers baptist general association virginia gathered worship around theme hope way replacement term cooperative program term cooperative missions new term general use years though change official phrase added constitution notes cooperative missions virginia baptists longstanding commitment cooperative program giving authority naming chair bgav budget committee bgav president previously bylaws gave responsibility president two vice presidents acting committee new mission partnership agreements signed meeting highlighted virginia baptists growing involvement national international ministries among revised agreement bgav womans missionary union virginia outlines relations two entities bgav executive director john upton said two combined four separate agreements governed relationship one document agreements signed international baptist convention worldwide fellowship englishlanguage churches free state baptist association south africa baptist convention ontario quebec increase ties virginia baptists latino network hispanics two canadian provinces
| 756 |
<p />
<p>Pastor Nadia Bolz Weber.</p>
<p>BBC</p>
<p>At the House for All Sinners and Saints in the US city of Denver, a foul-mouthed tattoo-loving Lutheran pastor who was once a Pagan, an alcoholic and a stand-up comedian, is reinventing church.</p>
<p>Nadia Bolz Weber walks through the glass doors and immediately commands attention. She is 6-foor-1, has short, salt-and-pepper hair slicked back from her face, wears dark pink lipstick, and her bare arms are well-toned from many hours spent lifting weights in the gym. There is no dog collar this morning.</p>
<p>But I get a clear view of her trademark tattoos. Elaborate, colourful images extend all the way up both arms. Closer inspection reveals characters and scenes from the Bible.</p>
<p>"I've got images from the entire liturgical year," she says, pointing to her left arm. "There's the Angel Gabriel, Elizabeth and Zacharias for Advent, the creche scene for Christmas, Jesus in the desert for Lent, Good Friday and the crucifixion, the angel and the women at the empty tomb for Easter and Mary and the Apostles with flames on their heads for Pentecost."</p>
<p>That is just one side. She turns to show me her right arm where she has a large tattoo of Mary Magdalene, a follower of Jesus, who is often described as a prostitute. Bolz Weber disagrees, suggesting texts in the Bible are being misinterpreted, and that as the first person to meet Jesus after the resurrection, "She is the apostle to the apostles. She was the first preacher in a sense." She describes Mary as her patroness. "She's fierce," she adds, meaning "cool."</p>
<p>And finally, she tells me that on her back there's a "huge piece that's the Annunciation-slash-cover-up of a really hideous tattoo that some junkie gave me when I was lying in his apartment in 1991."&#160;</p>
<p>Nadia Bolz Weber could not be described as pious. She is frank about her wild past and her character flaws —&#160;she finds it hard to be nice to people, she insists —&#160;and she tells stories that are funny, self-deprecating, and riddled with expletives. (Hear her <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02s257z" type="external">in action</a>.)</p>
<p>Her autobiography, published in 2013, is full of what she calls "salty language" with chapter titles including I Didn't Call You for This Truth Bullshit, and one that makes liberal use of the F-word.</p>
<p>Her route to the priesthood was circuitous —&#160;via alcoholism and stand-up comedy —&#160;and she uses her story to engage fellow "outsiders" who might think they don't belong in church.</p>
<p>She was raised in Colorado Springs in the highly conservative Church of Christ. "I had a really harsh religious upbringing," she says, "fundamentalist, legalistic, sectarian."</p>
<p>She briefly attended one of the church's universities, Pepperdine, in Malibu, California —&#160;one of the world's most scenic campuses, perched on the cliffside above the Pacific Ocean. But she doesn't recall much of her four months there. "I was a drug-addled mess," she says.</p>
<p>She dropped out of college, moved to Denver, Colorado, and went on a bender for several years.</p>
<p>"I was just this kid who didn't fit my whole life. I was so angry," she says. "That anger protected, saved me in a way —&#160;until I added drugs and alcohol to it and then it almost killed me!"</p>
<p>She is very open about her days sleeping around, and getting drunk or high. "I was perfectly happy with the idea that I'd be dead by 30," she says.</p>
<p>But one day her close friend, PJ, killed himself. She knew him from the comedy circuit and his funeral was held in a comedy club in Denver, which she describes as "packed with academics, queers, recovering alcoholics."</p>
<p>By then she had left the Church of Christ, and had already taken up and abandoned Paganism. She still believed in God. And so, as the only one of PJ's friends who had any faith, she was asked to preside at his funeral.</p>
<p>"And I looked out and I thought: 'These are my people and they don't have a pastor —&#160;and maybe I'm actually called to be a pastor to my people,'" she says.</p>
<p>She went off to a Lutheran seminary and later started the House for All Sinners and Saints in Denver —&#160;its mission to minister to "outsiders."</p>
<p>"I had to start a church I'd want to show up to, basically because I'd rarely gone to one I liked," she says.&#160;"I actually told my bishop at some point during the process, 'Look, you could put me in a parish in the suburbs of some small town, but you and I both know that would be ugly for everyone involved, so how about I just start one?' He goes: 'Yeah, that sounds like a better idea.'"</p>
<p>One third of her congregation is gay, lesbian or transgender. And they celebrate that fact. There is even a "Minister of Fabulousness,"&#160;a drag queen called Stuart.</p>
<p>"Here's why if you don't have a drag queen in your congregation you should get one," Bolz Weber says.</p>
<p>"Because when we were talking about what's called stewardship, which is kind of the financial reality of our church and people giving and stuff, we were trying to figure out ways to encourage people to help fund the community they're part of, Stuart goes: 'Oh I know what we're going to do. We're going to get a T-Shirt and on the front it will say This Shit Ain't Free, and then on the back it's going to say So You Better Tithe, Bitches!' You see what I'm saying? It just makes church so much better."</p>
<p>They don't own the building, and they worship in the round with the altar at the centre. She says that's because the many younger people who attend have a "built-in suspicion of institutions and a suspicion of presumed authority". She clearly identifies with them.</p>
<p>They share roles and sing hymns unaccompanied, in the&#160;a capella&#160;tradition she brought from the Church of Christ.</p>
<p>She says that there used to be 40 of them on any given Sunday. Then, after she was featured in The Denver Post and preached to a mass outdoor congregation one Easter, the congregation doubled overnight.&#160;Suddenly she was drawing in 65-year-olds from the suburbs, prompting what she describes as an "identity crisis."</p>
<p>"It was awful. I just looked around, I was like, 'Man, these people could go to any mainline Protestant church in the city and see a bunch of people who look just like them. Why are they messing up our weird?!'" she says.</p>
<p>"So I called a friend of mine who has a similar church, and I was like: 'Hey, have you ever had normal people mess up your church?' expecting him to be like: 'Yeah, here's what you do.' And he goes, 'Yeah, well you guys are really great at welcoming the stranger if it's a young transgender kid, but sometimes the stranger looks like your mum and dad.'"</p>
<p>Bolz Weber called a meeting to discuss the invasion of her "indie boutique of a church". But then, in one of many stories she tells at her own expense, she quotes a young congregant called Asher.</p>
<p>"Asher speaks up… and says, 'As the young transgender kid who was welcomed into your community, I'd just like to say that I'm really glad there are people here who look like my mom and dad because they love me in a way my parents can't right now.'"</p>
<p>Bolz Weber has no prejudices about sexual identity or orientation, and no patience with the debates about sexuality that have ensnared so many churches, including her own Lutheran denomination. She says it is because she doesn't read the Bible in a literal way - in fact, she calls such a reading idolatry.</p>
<p>She believes in sin —&#160;"I never weary of speaking of the ways in which we are broken and in need of grace," she says —&#160;she just doesn't understand it in sexual terms.</p>
<p>But while she is socially progressive, she adheres to the teachings of the orthodox Lutheran tradition.</p>
<p>"Theologically I'm not liberal," she says. "Because what I see in a lot of what would be categorised as liberal theology is what we call a high anthropology, which is a very high opinion of human beings and what we can accomplish, like 'All the good of God is inside of you!'</p>
<p>"And I'm like, 'Are you kidding? It's dark in there!' It's there, but there are other things there too."</p>
<p>Thanks partly to her autobiography, Pastrix: The Cranky Beautiful Faith of a Sinner and Saint, which became a bestseller, she has become a sought-after speaker across and beyond the United States —&#160;in traditional evangelical churches, among others.</p>
<p>"Isn't that hilarious? That they might not ever have invited a woman preacher before and then they invite one that's me?! It's like they went from zero to 60," she says.</p>
<p>One curious, though warm, encounter took place recently at Pepperdine, the university she once dropped out of.</p>
<p>"I don't think clergy should pretend to be people they're not," she tells the students.&#160;"Which is not to say I think all clergy should swear, because frankly most of them are not very good at it." The audience laughs.</p>
<p>She adds: "You'll be fine." They laugh again.</p>
<p>Not surprisingly perhaps, Bolz Weber keeps getting invited to appear on reality TV shows.&#160;She has also —&#160;and it must be a rare combination —&#160;been asked if she'd like to become a bishop.</p>
<p>She has no intention of accepting either offer.</p>
<p>This story is <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/33377925" type="external">cross-posted</a> by our partners at <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine" type="external">BBC Magazine.</a></p>
| false | 3 |
pastor nadia bolz weber bbc house sinners saints us city denver foulmouthed tattooloving lutheran pastor pagan alcoholic standup comedian reinventing church nadia bolz weber walks glass doors immediately commands attention 6foor1 short saltandpepper hair slicked back face wears dark pink lipstick bare arms welltoned many hours spent lifting weights gym dog collar morning get clear view trademark tattoos elaborate colourful images extend way arms closer inspection reveals characters scenes bible ive got images entire liturgical year says pointing left arm theres angel gabriel elizabeth zacharias advent creche scene christmas jesus desert lent good friday crucifixion angel women empty tomb easter mary apostles flames heads pentecost one side turns show right arm large tattoo mary magdalene follower jesus often described prostitute bolz weber disagrees suggesting texts bible misinterpreted first person meet jesus resurrection apostle apostles first preacher sense describes mary patroness shes fierce adds meaning cool finally tells back theres huge piece thats annunciationslashcoverup really hideous tattoo junkie gave lying apartment 1991160 nadia bolz weber could described pious frank wild past character flaws 160she finds hard nice people insists 160and tells stories funny selfdeprecating riddled expletives hear action autobiography published 2013 full calls salty language chapter titles including didnt call truth bullshit one makes liberal use fword route priesthood circuitous 160via alcoholism standup comedy 160and uses story engage fellow outsiders might think dont belong church raised colorado springs highly conservative church christ really harsh religious upbringing says fundamentalist legalistic sectarian briefly attended one churchs universities pepperdine malibu california 160one worlds scenic campuses perched cliffside pacific ocean doesnt recall much four months drugaddled mess says dropped college moved denver colorado went bender several years kid didnt fit whole life angry says anger protected saved way 160until added drugs alcohol almost killed open days sleeping around getting drunk high perfectly happy idea id dead 30 says one day close friend pj killed knew comedy circuit funeral held comedy club denver describes packed academics queers recovering alcoholics left church christ already taken abandoned paganism still believed god one pjs friends faith asked preside funeral looked thought people dont pastor 160and maybe im actually called pastor people says went lutheran seminary later started house sinners saints denver 160its mission minister outsiders start church id want show basically id rarely gone one liked says160i actually told bishop point process look could put parish suburbs small town know would ugly everyone involved start one goes yeah sounds like better idea one third congregation gay lesbian transgender celebrate fact even minister fabulousness160a drag queen called stuart heres dont drag queen congregation get one bolz weber says talking whats called stewardship kind financial reality church people giving stuff trying figure ways encourage people help fund community theyre part stuart goes oh know going going get tshirt front say shit aint free back going say better tithe bitches see im saying makes church much better dont building worship round altar centre says thats many younger people attend builtin suspicion institutions suspicion presumed authority clearly identifies share roles sing hymns unaccompanied the160a capella160tradition brought church christ says used 40 given sunday featured denver post preached mass outdoor congregation one easter congregation doubled overnight160suddenly drawing 65yearolds suburbs prompting describes identity crisis awful looked around like man people could go mainline protestant church city see bunch people look like messing weird says called friend mine similar church like hey ever normal people mess church expecting like yeah heres goes yeah well guys really great welcoming stranger young transgender kid sometimes stranger looks like mum dad bolz weber called meeting discuss invasion indie boutique church one many stories tells expense quotes young congregant called asher asher speaks says young transgender kid welcomed community id like say im really glad people look like mom dad love way parents cant right bolz weber prejudices sexual identity orientation patience debates sexuality ensnared many churches including lutheran denomination says doesnt read bible literal way fact calls reading idolatry believes sin 160i never weary speaking ways broken need grace says 160she doesnt understand sexual terms socially progressive adheres teachings orthodox lutheran tradition theologically im liberal says see lot would categorised liberal theology call high anthropology high opinion human beings accomplish like good god inside im like kidding dark things thanks partly autobiography pastrix cranky beautiful faith sinner saint became bestseller become soughtafter speaker across beyond united states 160in traditional evangelical churches among others isnt hilarious might ever invited woman preacher invite one thats like went zero 60 says one curious though warm encounter took place recently pepperdine university dropped dont think clergy pretend people theyre tells students160which say think clergy swear frankly good audience laughs adds youll fine laugh surprisingly perhaps bolz weber keeps getting invited appear reality tv shows160she also 160and must rare combination 160been asked shed like become bishop intention accepting either offer story crossposted partners bbc magazine
| 801 |
<p>KIEV, Ukraine — Russia and Belarus ended a month-long standoff over oil tariffs this week, signing an agreement that officials touted as striking a middle ground between Minsk and Moscow.&#160;</p>
<p>But the accord was in fact a victory for Russia, observers said, revealing the weakness of Belarus’s position, and may point to more difficulties to come between the two Slavic “brother nations.”&#160;</p>
<p>At issue was the Kremlin’s sudden cancellation of a long-standing arrangement to provide cheap oil to Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko’s authoritarian regime. Russia exported more than 20 million tons of oil to Belarus annually, which under the two nations’ customs union, was subject to only one-third of the usual export tax.&#160;</p>
<p>Belarus used about 6 million tons domestically. The rest it processed at its two oil refineries and exported to Ukraine and western Europe, charging the usual export tariff and pocketing the difference.&#160;</p>
<p>Moscow refused to renew the contract when it expired on Dec. 31 and demanded that Minsk pay the full export tax for the oil it sold abroad. The new terms potentially meant a loss of $2 billion to $3 billion dollars — an enormous sum for the cash-strapped Lukashenko government, which has counted on cheap Russian oil and gas to <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/belarus/100105/market-socialism-belarus-economy" type="external">subsidize its post-Soviet welfare state</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>“In the past the oil has been a massive earner [for Belarus] — more important in many ways than the cheap gas,” said Andrew Wilson, senior policy fellow at European Council on Foreign Relations in London. “It put money in the regime’s pocket — its political slush fund.”&#160;</p>
<p>In their negotiations, the two sides played a game of political chicken. Russia threatened to decrease if not completely cut off the oil it supplied to Belarus’s domestic industry; Belarus for its part has the power to potentially block all Russian oil traveling through the Druzhba pipeline, which crosses its territory and supplies about 10 percent of Europe’s oil.&#160;</p>
<p>Neither side, however, carried out its threats, real or implied, and in the end the two sides reached a compromise of sorts. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin and Vladimir Semashko, Minsk’s first deputy prime minister, signed an agreement Wednesday whereby Belarus would received 6.3 million tons of oil duty free for domestic use, but the amount could increase after September, depending on whether the country’s economy recovers from its recession. Tariffs would rise by 11 percent over the original reduced rate on the remaining oil that crosses Belarus, agencies reported.&#160;</p>
<p>“The position of the Belarussian side was very harsh for us. We agreed to a number of compromises, bearing in mind the special relationship with a brother republic, with the people of Belarus,” Sechin said in published comments.</p>
<p>The full scope of the contract is unclear however. Some analysts at first glance declared Belarus nevertheless the loser. Minsk it seems is receiving less now that it was before. This, no matter how you look at it, is a blow to Lukashenko’s government, which is finding it increasingly difficult to meet its financial obligations.&#160;</p>
<p>Semashko for his part said that Belarus's “budget losses will not be as high as was envisaged very recently,” the Russian Interfax news agency reported.&#160;</p>
<p>The defeat is linked to the fact that Lukashenko, who, it is said, takes pride in his ability to overcome any political obstacle — and who faces re-election in February 2011 — finds himself with ever decreasing space to maneuver.&#160;</p>
<p>Chris Weafer, senior strategist for Uralsib Bank in Moscow, said that Lukashenko, having long pursued a policy that turned its back on the West, “hasn’t developed the relations and therefore now doesn’t have any other international options.”&#160;</p>
<p>“He’s backed himself into a corner,” Weafer added. “Belarus needs that subsidy.”&#160;</p>
<p>Lukashenko could weather his financial problems, observers say, by striking further bargains with Moscow. The Kremlin can provide money (the last $500 million tranche of a stand-by loan has been frozen for instance) but most likely Moscow officials would require choice pieces of the Belarus economy in return. Russian oil interests have been eyeing increased stakes in Belarus’s pipeline network and its two marquee refineries, Mozyr and Naftan.&#160;</p>
<p>Making matters worse, Belarus’s negotiating ace-in-the-hole — its ability to close down the Druzhba pipeline — may soon be obsolete as well. Russia has long planned to build by 2013 a spur to its Baltic Pipeline System that bypasses its Slavic neighbor and supplies Europe directly.&#160;</p>
<p>On the other hand, Lukashenko could turn his back on Russia’s money and open up his country to western investment. Washington and Brussels are requiring political reform, however, and western companies are waiting for economic restructuring before they commit to sinking major funds into Belarus. Lukashenko has made a number of political and economic gestures in the last year, freeing political prisoners and discussing major privatizations. He appears either unwilling or unable to undertake further significant reforms, however, most likely because this could entail weakening his grip on power.&#160;</p>
<p>Ultimately, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan are supposed to form a single customs space by mid-2011. This date, however, is constantly being pushed back — a victim of such thorny issues like how to tax Russian oil exports. For this reason, some observers believe the disputes between the two countries will become not better, but worse.&#160;</p>
<p>“As long as they are joined in a union, relations between Russia and Belarus will not be normal,” said Vitali Silitski, director of the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies in Minsk. “Like with any problem family, the solution can only be divorce.”</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
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kiev ukraine russia belarus ended monthlong standoff oil tariffs week signing agreement officials touted striking middle ground minsk moscow160 accord fact victory russia observers said revealing weakness belaruss position may point difficulties come two slavic brother nations160 issue kremlins sudden cancellation longstanding arrangement provide cheap oil belarusian president aleksander lukashenkos authoritarian regime russia exported 20 million tons oil belarus annually two nations customs union subject onethird usual export tax160 belarus used 6 million tons domestically rest processed two oil refineries exported ukraine western europe charging usual export tariff pocketing difference160 moscow refused renew contract expired dec 31 demanded minsk pay full export tax oil sold abroad new terms potentially meant loss 2 billion 3 billion dollars enormous sum cashstrapped lukashenko government counted cheap russian oil gas subsidize postsoviet welfare state160 past oil massive earner belarus important many ways cheap gas said andrew wilson senior policy fellow european council foreign relations london put money regimes pocket political slush fund160 negotiations two sides played game political chicken russia threatened decrease completely cut oil supplied belaruss domestic industry belarus part power potentially block russian oil traveling druzhba pipeline crosses territory supplies 10 percent europes oil160 neither side however carried threats real implied end two sides reached compromise sorts russian deputy prime minister igor sechin vladimir semashko minsks first deputy prime minister signed agreement wednesday whereby belarus would received 63 million tons oil duty free domestic use amount could increase september depending whether countrys economy recovers recession tariffs would rise 11 percent original reduced rate remaining oil crosses belarus agencies reported160 position belarussian side harsh us agreed number compromises bearing mind special relationship brother republic people belarus sechin said published comments full scope contract unclear however analysts first glance declared belarus nevertheless loser minsk seems receiving less matter look blow lukashenkos government finding increasingly difficult meet financial obligations160 semashko part said belaruss budget losses high envisaged recently russian interfax news agency reported160 defeat linked fact lukashenko said takes pride ability overcome political obstacle faces reelection february 2011 finds ever decreasing space maneuver160 chris weafer senior strategist uralsib bank moscow said lukashenko long pursued policy turned back west hasnt developed relations therefore doesnt international options160 hes backed corner weafer added belarus needs subsidy160 lukashenko could weather financial problems observers say striking bargains moscow kremlin provide money last 500 million tranche standby loan frozen instance likely moscow officials would require choice pieces belarus economy return russian oil interests eyeing increased stakes belaruss pipeline network two marquee refineries mozyr naftan160 making matters worse belaruss negotiating aceinthehole ability close druzhba pipeline may soon obsolete well russia long planned build 2013 spur baltic pipeline system bypasses slavic neighbor supplies europe directly160 hand lukashenko could turn back russias money open country western investment washington brussels requiring political reform however western companies waiting economic restructuring commit sinking major funds belarus lukashenko made number political economic gestures last year freeing political prisoners discussing major privatizations appears either unwilling unable undertake significant reforms however likely could entail weakening grip power160 ultimately russia belarus kazakhstan supposed form single customs space mid2011 date however constantly pushed back victim thorny issues like tax russian oil exports reason observers believe disputes two countries become better worse160 long joined union relations russia belarus normal said vitali silitski director belarusian institute strategic studies minsk like problem family solution divorce 160
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<p>As a journalist, I’ve covered my share of protests and rallies, both peaceful and violent. To stay safe, I follow two rules: First, obey the law. Second, identify myself clearly as a journalist. That’s always been sufficient for getting close to the story without becoming a part of the story myself.</p>
<p>Until last Saturday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.</p>
<p>I had been reporting on the story of Alton Sterling's killing for NPR all week. Trawling through Twitter, I caught wind of a protest gathering near the East Baton Rouge Police Department on Airline Highway, a busy six-lane thoroughfare. When I arrived, the protest was disorganized and nearly falling apart. Activists couldn’t decide on a location, and the group was splintering and losing steam.</p>
<p>Then, a contingent showed up from the New Black Panther Party. Distinct from the Black Panthers, the NBPP is classified as an “extremist group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Perhaps 30 members showed up, some equipped with shotguns and smaller handguns.</p>
<p>Their arrival electrified the crowd. With the NBPP in the lead, demonstrators began marching in formation up and down one lane of Airline Highway, directly in front of the police department. Over 100&#160;onlookers gathered, some simply watching from the grass shoulder beside the highway. This is where I also stood, recording with my radio equipment and taking pictures and video with my iPhone.</p>
<p>Before long, the police warned the crowd to exit the roadway. When they did not, scores of law enforcement officers began filing out. Perhaps 50 of them were dressed in riot gear with visors and shields, and they flanked an armored vehicle.</p>
<p>In three days of covering protests at the Triple S Food Mart where Alton Sterling was shot, I had not seen a single uniformed officer.</p>
<p>The two groups came to a tense face-off in the street. Law enforcement stood silent and immobile, while the NBPP faced them with loud chants and fists in the air. I didn’t witness any inciting incident (such as a rock being thrown), but at some point the police officers decided to charge into the assembly and subdue the crowd.</p>
<p>This is when time slowed down. If you’d asked me, I would have said the following events occurred over a minute’s time. Reviewing my video of the situation, it was four seconds.</p>
<p>The officers began to wrest guns from the NBPP members. Shotguns that had been pointed at the sky were now akimbo, four or six hands to one gun. I stepped back, then turned around to flee. But unbeknownst to me, a line of city police had fanned out behind those of us on the grass. Now, they prevented us from leaving. An officer grabbed me and threw me back toward the violence. I smacked up against a wall of riot shields. The riot police knocked me to the ground. The city police flipped me face-down, then pinned and handcuffed my hands behind my back.</p>
<p>I repeated that I was a journalist. The officers told me to stop resisting arrest. I stopped talking and let my body go limp. After that, the officers were courteous, respectful and polite. They asked if I was hurt or needed medical attention, then collected my strewn belongings and stuffed them into my pockets.</p>
<p>Saying that I was a journalist made no difference, despite my press credentials. At no point was I told that I was under arrest, told why I was being arrested or what I was charged with, or read my Miranda rights.</p>
<p>At one point, an officer told me, “I’m tired of y’all saying you’re journalists.”</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>From there it was a series of long and boring bureaucratic procedures. I was arrested shortly after 6 p.m.&#160;and wasn’t finished until after 1 a.m. I was transferred between six locations, searched naked, given an orange jumpsuit and&#160;a medical and mental health screening, and finally checked in to the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. In the morning, we were given the local paper, The Advocate. It was only when an inmate paging through it looked up at me and said, “Hey, you’re in here!” that I learned I was being charged with “simple obstruction of a highway.”</p>
<p>Thankfully, my video shows that I never set foot in the road.</p>
<p>Many people have asked me about the racial element of my arrest. It’s not for me to know what’s in another man’s heart, and I won’t speculate. What I can say is this: I am an Indian&#160;American born to South Indian parents. My skin is light brown, my features ambiguous and my hair black and nappy.</p>
<p>During the protest, some 30 people were arrested, almost all of them black. A white reporter standing some eight feet to my left was not arrested.</p>
<p>At the prison, I was checked in as a black male. Nobody asked my race.</p>
<p>Others have asked about the prison experience: Was it scary?&#160;Was it rough?&#160;More than anything, prison was boring. You’re kept in the dark with little idea of next steps or when help might arrive. But I’m a person of relative privilege, a college-educated employee of a nonprofit, with a supportive family and no criminal record. My workplace stood behind me to pay my bond and engage lawyers on my behalf. Many of the protesters I met in prison had no such advantages. Some had outstanding bench warrants for other, minor crimes. Others had no one to pay their bond, and languished in prison.</p>
<p>I was released after some 22 hours.</p>
<p>Another point has been somewhat overlooked. Journalists can be tribal; we look out for one another. As I said, I’ve covered many protests during my career, and following two rules have&#160;up until now been sufficient to avoid arrest. My story has gotten a lot of attention — a journalist arrested while exercising the First Amendment right to freedom of the press.</p>
<p>Yet more importantly I, like many I observed, was a citizen arrested while obeying the law. That’s the story that deserves attention.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/ryankailath?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" type="external">Ryan Kailath</a> is a reporter with WWNO in New Orleans.</p>
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journalist ive covered share protests rallies peaceful violent stay safe follow two rules first obey law second identify clearly journalist thats always sufficient getting close story without becoming part story last saturday baton rouge louisiana reporting story alton sterlings killing npr week trawling twitter caught wind protest gathering near east baton rouge police department airline highway busy sixlane thoroughfare arrived protest disorganized nearly falling apart activists couldnt decide location group splintering losing steam contingent showed new black panther party distinct black panthers nbpp classified extremist group southern poverty law center perhaps 30 members showed equipped shotguns smaller handguns arrival electrified crowd nbpp lead demonstrators began marching formation one lane airline highway directly front police department 100160onlookers gathered simply watching grass shoulder beside highway also stood recording radio equipment taking pictures video iphone long police warned crowd exit roadway scores law enforcement officers began filing perhaps 50 dressed riot gear visors shields flanked armored vehicle three days covering protests triple food mart alton sterling shot seen single uniformed officer two groups came tense faceoff street law enforcement stood silent immobile nbpp faced loud chants fists air didnt witness inciting incident rock thrown point police officers decided charge assembly subdue crowd time slowed youd asked would said following events occurred minutes time reviewing video situation four seconds officers began wrest guns nbpp members shotguns pointed sky akimbo four six hands one gun stepped back turned around flee unbeknownst line city police fanned behind us grass prevented us leaving officer grabbed threw back toward violence smacked wall riot shields riot police knocked ground city police flipped facedown pinned handcuffed hands behind back repeated journalist officers told stop resisting arrest stopped talking let body go limp officers courteous respectful polite asked hurt needed medical attention collected strewn belongings stuffed pockets saying journalist made difference despite press credentials point told arrest told arrested charged read miranda rights one point officer told im tired yall saying youre journalists series long boring bureaucratic procedures arrested shortly 6 pm160and wasnt finished 1 transferred six locations searched naked given orange jumpsuit and160a medical mental health screening finally checked east baton rouge parish prison morning given local paper advocate inmate paging looked said hey youre learned charged simple obstruction highway thankfully video shows never set foot road many people asked racial element arrest know whats another mans heart wont speculate say indian160american born south indian parents skin light brown features ambiguous hair black nappy protest 30 people arrested almost black white reporter standing eight feet left arrested prison checked black male nobody asked race others asked prison experience scary160was rough160more anything prison boring youre kept dark little idea next steps help might arrive im person relative privilege collegeeducated employee nonprofit supportive family criminal record workplace stood behind pay bond engage lawyers behalf many protesters met prison advantages outstanding bench warrants minor crimes others one pay bond languished prison released 22 hours another point somewhat overlooked journalists tribal look one another said ive covered many protests career following two rules have160up sufficient avoid arrest story gotten lot attention journalist arrested exercising first amendment right freedom press yet importantly like many observed citizen arrested obeying law thats story deserves attention ryan kailath reporter wwno new orleans
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<p>Sophia Dalke was charged with assault on a police officer while armed following a standoff Monday. (Photo courtesy Facebook)</p>
<p>The D.C. police department’s Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit and its transgender supervisor, Sgt. Jessica Hawkins, played a role in persuading a 31-year-old transgender woman to peacefully surrender after a 10-hour standoff on the roof of a downtown office building in which she fired a handgun and threatened to kill herself and harm others.</p>
<p>According to a police news release and a separate police report, officers charged Sophia Dalke of Springfield, Va., with assault on a police officer while armed. The arrest came about 10:30 a.m.&#160;after Dalke agreed to peacefully leave a location in which she positioned herself on the roof deck of an upscale office building at 1999 K St., N.W.</p>
<p>“The MPD GLLU reported Suspect 1 told MPD that she wanted to commit suicide,” the highly redacted public version of the police report says. “Suspect 1 told MPD that she had just shot out the glass door leading to the roof top,” the report says.</p>
<p>The report adds: “Responding MPD units arrived on the scene to the front of the building. On the scene, sounds of several gunshots could be heard. Gunshots were fired in the area where police personnel were arriving.”</p>
<p>The report says Sgt. Hawkins was among three officers that provided assistance to the department’s Emergency Response Team that was dispatched to the scene. The press release says the officers arrived shortly after 12:19 a.m. after being alerted that “an adult female in crisis [was] threatening harm to herself and others.”</p>
<p>The police press release, which makes no mention that Dalke is transgender, says “a barricade incident was declared” after Dalke “discharged a firearm.”</p>
<p>As the standoff extended into the morning rush hour, police closed the 1900 block of K Street and a number of surrounding streets as a means of extra precaution, even though officials said they didn’t believe pedestrians or motorists were in immediate danger. The street closings caused a massive traffic and pedestrian gridlock, preventing hundreds of people from getting to their offices for the start of the workday.</p>
<p>Neither the police report nor press release discloses that Dalke is transgender. The press release makes no mention of the GLLU or Sgt. Hawkins’ involvement in the police response to the incident.</p>
<p>But on her Facebook page Dalke openly discusses her status as a trans woman and her experiences in transitioning in a series of postings over the past several months. In a posting late Sunday night or early Monday morning Dalke stated, “Sorry all, I’m dead tonight.”</p>
<p>That posting prompted three of her friends to post messages of support that suggested they somehow learned Dalke&#160;was considering taking her own life or lashing out at others at the site of the office building.</p>
<p>“Sophia, we care about you. I care about you,” one of the friends stated in a post. “Sophia, you are way too smart and cool to do this. Come down and have a drink with us, and we’ll figure this out.”</p>
<p>Another wrote, “Sophia, please check your phone. We are trying to communicate with you.” Several hours later that same friend wrote, “Thank God! Sophia has surrendered to authorities, is down from the roof, and safe. Thank you to everyone who jumped in, texted, called, and offered support. Though we don’t know for sure if Sophia saw our support, if she did, I am certain it helped! We are all in this together.”</p>
<p>Lt. Sean Conboy, a police spokesperson, said he could not comment on whether the GLLU or the GLLU supervisor, Sgt. Hawkins, played a role in the police effort to persuade Dalke to peacefully surrender.</p>
<p>As of late Monday, police officials did not disclose why or how Dalke entered the office building on K Street after midnight on Monday.</p>
<p>Local transgender advocate Dana Beyer said she doesn’t know Dalke but has spoken with others who know her. Beyer said people who know Dalke said she worked in one of the offices in the building, enabling her to gain access to the building early Monday morning.</p>
<p>Police charging documents filed in court, which were unavailable on Monday, were expected to reveal more details of the incident upon their release into the public court records on Tuesday.</p>
<p>&#160;The police standoff with Dalke comes at a time when D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier has redeployed members of the GLLU and other specialized police units to street patrol duties unrelated to their regular specialized mission several times each month.</p>
<p>Officials have said the redeployments are needed to provide more police patrols in high crime areas at a time when the department is facing a shortage of officers due to retirements and attrition. Some LGBT activists have expressed concern that the GLLU is less visible in the LGBT community than it has been in the past.</p>
<p>Earl Fowlkes, president of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, the city’s largest LGBT political group, said on Monday following a regularly scheduled club meeting, that the GLLU’s reported involvement in the effort to persuade Dalke to surrender peacefully shows that the unit continues to play an important role in the community’s safety.</p>
<p>“If that is true, then this is another reason why we need to have the GLLU,” Fowlkes said.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Cathy Lanier</a> <a href="" type="internal">Dana Beyer</a> <a href="" type="internal">Earl Fowlkes</a> <a href="" type="internal">Gay &amp; Lesbian Liaison Unit</a> <a href="" type="internal">Gertrude Stein Democratic Club</a> <a href="" type="internal">GLLU</a> <a href="" type="internal">LGBT</a> <a href="" type="internal">Metropolitan Police Department</a> <a href="" type="internal">MPD</a> <a href="" type="internal">Sean Conboy</a> <a href="" type="internal">Sophia Dalke</a> <a href="" type="internal">trans</a> <a href="" type="internal">transgender</a> <a href="" type="internal">Virginia</a></p>
| false | 3 |
sophia dalke charged assault police officer armed following standoff monday photo courtesy facebook dc police departments gay lesbian liaison unit transgender supervisor sgt jessica hawkins played role persuading 31yearold transgender woman peacefully surrender 10hour standoff roof downtown office building fired handgun threatened kill harm others according police news release separate police report officers charged sophia dalke springfield va assault police officer armed arrest came 1030 am160after dalke agreed peacefully leave location positioned roof deck upscale office building 1999 k st nw mpd gllu reported suspect 1 told mpd wanted commit suicide highly redacted public version police report says suspect 1 told mpd shot glass door leading roof top report says report adds responding mpd units arrived scene front building scene sounds several gunshots could heard gunshots fired area police personnel arriving report says sgt hawkins among three officers provided assistance departments emergency response team dispatched scene press release says officers arrived shortly 1219 alerted adult female crisis threatening harm others police press release makes mention dalke transgender says barricade incident declared dalke discharged firearm standoff extended morning rush hour police closed 1900 block k street number surrounding streets means extra precaution even though officials said didnt believe pedestrians motorists immediate danger street closings caused massive traffic pedestrian gridlock preventing hundreds people getting offices start workday neither police report press release discloses dalke transgender press release makes mention gllu sgt hawkins involvement police response incident facebook page dalke openly discusses status trans woman experiences transitioning series postings past several months posting late sunday night early monday morning dalke stated sorry im dead tonight posting prompted three friends post messages support suggested somehow learned dalke160was considering taking life lashing others site office building sophia care care one friends stated post sophia way smart cool come drink us well figure another wrote sophia please check phone trying communicate several hours later friend wrote thank god sophia surrendered authorities roof safe thank everyone jumped texted called offered support though dont know sure sophia saw support certain helped together lt sean conboy police spokesperson said could comment whether gllu gllu supervisor sgt hawkins played role police effort persuade dalke peacefully surrender late monday police officials disclose dalke entered office building k street midnight monday local transgender advocate dana beyer said doesnt know dalke spoken others know beyer said people know dalke said worked one offices building enabling gain access building early monday morning police charging documents filed court unavailable monday expected reveal details incident upon release public court records tuesday 160the police standoff dalke comes time dc police chief cathy lanier redeployed members gllu specialized police units street patrol duties unrelated regular specialized mission several times month officials said redeployments needed provide police patrols high crime areas time department facing shortage officers due retirements attrition lgbt activists expressed concern gllu less visible lgbt community past earl fowlkes president gertrude stein democratic club citys largest lgbt political group said monday following regularly scheduled club meeting gllus reported involvement effort persuade dalke surrender peacefully shows unit continues play important role communitys safety true another reason need gllu fowlkes said cathy lanier dana beyer earl fowlkes gay amp lesbian liaison unit gertrude stein democratic club gllu lgbt metropolitan police department mpd sean conboy sophia dalke trans transgender virginia
| 540 |
<p>PHILADELPHIA — Democrats made history Tuesday by officially nominating Hillary Clinton to be the first woman presidential nominee of a major party in the United States’ 240-year existence.</p>
<p>The significance of Clinton's achievement has often been overshadowed during a long and colorful presidential campaign. But Democrats hope to remind voters of the feat as Clinton prepares to face off against Donald Trump, whose comments about women have turned off female voters.</p>
<p>They got off to a strong start during the second night of the Democratic National Convention.</p>
<p>The themes of women and history were woven into almost every speech, performance, and even in the signs reading “history” passed out to delegates.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">Clinton Becomes 1st Female Presidential Nominee of Major Party</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Clinton formally received the nomination</a> after a roll call vote of delegates from all 50 states, a moment made all the more significant by Bernie Sanders. After fighting a long and sometimes bitter campaign against Clinton — which included him once calling her “unqualified” to be president — he rose to the microphone to nominate her in acclimation.</p>
<p>The uplifting moment of party unity was brought down somewhat by the hundreds of Sanders delegates who walked out of the convention hall. But the gesture nonetheless filled many Democrats with hope and optimism, evident by tissues being passed around in the stands between young women.</p>
<p>It took two tries for Clinton to get here, but get here she did. The tenacity required to run for president twice in the face of congressional probes and jokes about her hair were a theme throughout the evening.</p>
<p>“What does it take to the be first female anything? It takes grit and grace,” said actress Meryl Streep, wearing an American flag dress. “Hillary Clinton has taken some fire over 40 years.”</p>
<p>Bill Clinton, among the few people alive who know first-hand what it’s like to be president, didn’t talk about his White House tenure hardly at all during his keynote address.</p>
<p>Instead, <a href="" type="internal">he talked about the Hillary Clinton only he knows</a>. Summoning his charm and nostalgia-factor, Bill said that the Hillary that people don’t trust or don't like is not real. It’s a “cartoon,” created by Republicans, he said.</p>
<p>“Cartoons are two-dimensional, they're easy to absorb. Life in the real world is complicated and real change is hard and a lot of people even think it's boring,” he said. “Good for you because earlier today you nominated the real one.”</p>
<p>It was a new tact from the former president, who tends to discuss his wife in more tactical terms as a “changemaker.” Instead, he portrayed her as human — warm and authentic.</p>
<p>President Obama dubbed Bill Clinton the “secretary of explaining stuff” for his wonky stemwinder of a speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, which was heavy on policy and numbers as he dismantled the GOP’s economic agenda.</p>
<p>Tuesday night’s speech was very different. Instead of being an authority figure, Clinton came across as a proud stranger at a party going on a little bit too long about his family.</p>
<p>The personal sections of the speech played poorly on political Twitter, but might land better with viewers at home who haven’t heard the well-worn anecdotes he told.</p>
<p>“She will never quit you,” he assured.</p>
<p>Related: <a href="" type="internal">Hillary Clinton's Big Moment Caps a Long Journey</a></p>
<p>The night also featured a performance by Alicia Keyes, who called on Sanders and Clinton supporters to come together. “Women are the answer. We have the power,” the singer said.</p>
<p>It finished with video montage that drove the point of the entire night home.</p>
<p>The video featured a succession of faces of male presidents, one after another. Then, zooming out to show all 43 presidents at once, the image shattered, invoking Hillary Clinton’s “18 million cracks in the glass ceiling” speech, as the face of now-official Democratic nominee appeared.</p>
<p>“We just put the biggest crack in that glass ceiling,” Clinton said in the surprise appearance, live via satellite. “And if there are any little girls out there who stayed up to watch, let me just say that I may become the first woman president, but one of you is next.”</p>
<p>Clinton will address the convention Thursday.</p>
<p>The core of the programming, between the roll call vote and Bill Clinton’s speech, were remarks from so-called <a href="" type="internal">Mothers of the Movement</a>, whose African-American sons and daughters were killed by gun violence and police incidents.</p>
<p>Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, said Clinton had the right balance of personal qualities — the “compassion and understanding to support grieving mothers” and “the courage to lead the fight for common-sense gun legislation.”</p>
<p>The inclusion of the mothers, as well as the entertainers, softened the pure politics that can dominate political conventions, much as First Lady Michelle Obama’s speech did the night before.</p>
<p>Clinton’s campaign is targeting, perhaps more than any other single demographic group, suburban women. Much of Tuesday's program seemed designed with them in mind.</p>
<p>Still, speakers like Sen. Amy Klobuchar were happy to put the matter in starkly political terms.</p>
<p>“Elevating women across the world so they're treated with dignity and respect — that's what Hillary Clinton will do,” she said. “And if that means playing the woman card, Donald Trump, let me tell you: There are hundreds of millions of women in this world who are ready to play that card. And in the United States of America, it's called the voting card.”</p>
| false | 3 |
philadelphia democrats made history tuesday officially nominating hillary clinton first woman presidential nominee major party united states 240year existence significance clintons achievement often overshadowed long colorful presidential campaign democrats hope remind voters feat clinton prepares face donald trump whose comments women turned female voters got strong start second night democratic national convention themes women history woven almost every speech performance even signs reading history passed delegates related clinton becomes 1st female presidential nominee major party clinton formally received nomination roll call vote delegates 50 states moment made significant bernie sanders fighting long sometimes bitter campaign clinton included calling unqualified president rose microphone nominate acclimation uplifting moment party unity brought somewhat hundreds sanders delegates walked convention hall gesture nonetheless filled many democrats hope optimism evident tissues passed around stands young women took two tries clinton get get tenacity required run president twice face congressional probes jokes hair theme throughout evening take first female anything takes grit grace said actress meryl streep wearing american flag dress hillary clinton taken fire 40 years bill clinton among people alive know firsthand like president didnt talk white house tenure hardly keynote address instead talked hillary clinton knows summoning charm nostalgiafactor bill said hillary people dont trust dont like real cartoon created republicans said cartoons twodimensional theyre easy absorb life real world complicated real change hard lot people even think boring said good earlier today nominated real one new tact former president tends discuss wife tactical terms changemaker instead portrayed human warm authentic president obama dubbed bill clinton secretary explaining stuff wonky stemwinder speech 2012 democratic national convention heavy policy numbers dismantled gops economic agenda tuesday nights speech different instead authority figure clinton came across proud stranger party going little bit long family personal sections speech played poorly political twitter might land better viewers home havent heard wellworn anecdotes told never quit assured related hillary clintons big moment caps long journey night also featured performance alicia keyes called sanders clinton supporters come together women answer power singer said finished video montage drove point entire night home video featured succession faces male presidents one another zooming show 43 presidents image shattered invoking hillary clintons 18 million cracks glass ceiling speech face nowofficial democratic nominee appeared put biggest crack glass ceiling clinton said surprise appearance live via satellite little girls stayed watch let say may become first woman president one next clinton address convention thursday core programming roll call vote bill clintons speech remarks socalled mothers movement whose africanamerican sons daughters killed gun violence police incidents sybrina fulton mother trayvon martin said clinton right balance personal qualities compassion understanding support grieving mothers courage lead fight commonsense gun legislation inclusion mothers well entertainers softened pure politics dominate political conventions much first lady michelle obamas speech night clintons campaign targeting perhaps single demographic group suburban women much tuesdays program seemed designed mind still speakers like sen amy klobuchar happy put matter starkly political terms elevating women across world theyre treated dignity respect thats hillary clinton said means playing woman card donald trump let tell hundreds millions women world ready play card united states america called voting card
| 517 |
<p>Federal prosecutors asked that disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner, and the man Hillary Clinton has quietly added to what has become a virtually infinite list of reasons why she lost the presidential election, be sentenced to about two years in prison for engaging in sexting with an underage, 15-year-old girl. Prosecutors filed papers in Manhattan Federal Court on Wednesday in advance of Weiner’s sentencing. In the document, prosecutors asked that the judge use the sentencing as an opportunity to send a message to other perverted politicians:</p>
<p>The Government respectfully submits this memorandum in connection with the sentencing of Anthony Weiner, which is scheduled for September 25, 2017,&#160;following his guilty plea to transferring obscene material to a minor. Although the defendant’s self-destructive path from United States Congressman to felon is indisputably sad, his crime is serious and his demonstrated need for deterrence is real.&#160;The non-custodial sentence that Weiner proposes is simply inadequate; his crime deserves time in prison.&#160;For the reasons set forth below, the Government respectfully requests that Court sentence Weiner to a term of imprisonment within the range of 21 to 27 months.</p>
<p>Weiner’s sentencing will take place almost exactly a year after the New York Post published a story about him sexting with another woman who wasn’t his wife. Weiner said he would plead guilty in May after prosecutors brought charges following revelations that he also sexted with the 15-year-old, whom he met over Twitter. Both the girl and her father told the Daily Mail that Weiner knew she was underaged when they were corresponding.</p>
<p>And just to make sure that Weiner does end up in jail, the US Attorney for the district of New York, Joon Kim, laid out in vivid – and gruesome detail – the circumstances of his pedophilia. As taken from the prosecutor memorandum:</p>
<p>In the evening of January 23, 2016, a 15-year-old girl (the “Minor Victim”) initiated contact with the defendant by sending him a direct message on Twitter. Over the next several hours, the Minor Victim and Weiner exchanged a series of messages, ranging from the mundane to the provocative. Early in the exchange,&#160;the Minor Victim revealed to Weiner that she was in high school.&#160;Despite knowing he was communicating with a high school student, Weiner participated in increasingly suggestive exchanges, telling the Minor Victim, among other things, that he thought she was “kinda sorta gorgeous.” Their communications continued the next morning on Facebook messenger, then moved to Kik, and at some later point, Confide and Snapchat. The latter three all are messaging and photo-sharing applications that delete messages and images once viewed.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>As January turned to February, their intermittent exchanges grew more lascivious. This was despite the fact that there could be no reasonable doubt in Weiner’s mind that he was chatting with a minor – in addition to having revealed that she was a high school student, the Minor Victim told Weiner that she was getting her learner’s permit. She explained in Facebook chats that she has “parents that wouldn’t approve of some of the things” she does, and that she likes “older guys,” “[b]ut that’s illegal.” The defendant correctly observed, “You are young,” in one Kik message.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Against that backdrop, between February 17 and 23, 2016, Weiner and the Minor Victim participated in three video chat sessions on Skype.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>There is no dispute that the Minor Victim repeatedly suggested that she and the defendant participate in video chats on Skype. Those suggestions were not, however, one-sided. For example, Twitter records reveal that during their first exchanges the night of January 23, 2016, at some point after the Minor Victim had suggested that they Skype, the defendant said “Leave the complex stuff for Skype.” That night as well, after a suggestive exchange, the defendant said “Maybe Skype someday.” Thus, although it was the Minor Victim who initially sought out Weiner, as the Government readily concedes, Weiner immediately responded to the Minor Victim’s overture and willingly participated in the offense conduct thereafter.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>It was then that the Minor Victim made clear that she was not just a minor – she was, in fact, only 15 years old.&#160;That did not stop Weiner. During the latter two Skype sessions, on February 18 and 23, 2016, and in a Snapchat communication on March 9, 2016, the defendant used graphic and obscene language to ask the Minor Victim to display her naked body and touch herself, which she did.&#160;He also sent an obscene message to the Minor Victim on Confide, describing what he would do to her, if she were 18. Part and parcel of these disturbing – and criminal – exchanges, the defendant also sent the Minor Victim adult pornography. In approximately March 2016, after several months of intermittent exchanges, communications between the defendant and Minor Victim largely stopped. The Minor Victim made efforts to re-engage, but was met with limited responsiveness.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>The instant conduct was revealed to the public and law enforcement in September 2016, when the Daily Mail published the Minor Victim’s account of her communications with Weiner after she participated in a paid interview.</p>
<p>And some further commentary from the proscuting attorney:</p>
<p>This is not merely a “sexting” case. The defendant did far more than exchange typed words on a lifeless cellphone screen with a faceless stranger. With full knowledge that he was communicating with a real 15-year-old girl, the defendant asked her to engage in sexually explicit conduct via Skype and Snapchat, where her body was on display, and where she was asked to sexually perform for him. That offense – transmitting obscenity to a minor to induce her to engage in sexually explicit conduct by video chat and photo – is far from mere “sexting.” Weiner’s criminal conduct was very serious, and the sentence imposed should reflect that seriousness.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>The defendant claims that he “responded to the victim’s request for sexually explicit messages not because she was a teenager, but in spite of it.” While the Government does not contend that Weiner engaged in inappropriate sexual exchanges with other minors or that he is a pedophile, his professed ambivalence towards the Minor Victim’s age is belied by the defendant’s own statements to the court-appointed evaluator during his evaluation. Moreover, the defendant has acknowledged an interest in legal, adult, teen-themed pornography. In the context of this admitted interest, his insistence that he deserves a lighter sentence because the Minor Victim’s age meant nothing to him&#160;rings hollow.&#160;Even if the Court were to credit Weiner’s claim of ambivalence to the Minor Victim’s age, that purported ambivalence is part of the problem. That his victim was a minor – and therefore his conduct a serious crime – did not deter Weiner from forging ahead.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>The defendant’s submission repeatedly makes note of the 15-year-old Minor Victim’s various motives for communicating with Weiner and her profit from sharing those communications with the media. While careful not to cast blame on the Minor Victim outright or disclaim ultimate responsibility for his crime, he relies, in part, on the circumstances of their communications in arguing for a sentence of probation. That argument should be rejected, and Weiner should be sentenced for what he did – not what motived the Minor Victim.&#160;Weiner, a grown man, a father, and a former lawmaker, willfully and knowingly asked a 15-year-old girl to display her body and engage in sexually explicit conduct for him online. Such conduct warrants a meaningful sentence of incarceration.</p>
<p>Defense lawyers had portrayed the girl as an aggressor, saying she wanted to generate material for a book and possibly influence the presidential election.&#160;Prosecutors responded that Weiner should be sentenced for what he did, and his victim’s motives should not influence his punishment. A defense lawyer declined to comment Wednesday.</p>
<p>Weiner, 53, said in a submission last week that he’s undergoing treatment and is profoundly sorry for subjecting the North Carolina high school student to what his lawyers called his “deep sickness.”</p>
<p>In a plea bargain, Weiner agreed not to appeal any sentence between 21 and 27 months. Prosecutors said the sentence should fall within that span, and they noted that Probation Office authorities had recommended a 27-month prison term.</p>
<p>He will be sentenced to prison next Monday.</p>
<p>The full sentencing guildeline filed by prosecutors is below.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&lt;iframe src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/359455485/content'start_page=1&amp;amp;view_mode=scroll&amp;amp;access_key=key-VwPCONLam13baIsvRmuC&amp;amp;show_recommendations=true" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" data-mce-fragment="1"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;</p>
<p>Commentary by Jon Masters,</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>source –&#160;http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-09-20/prosecutors-unveil-full-details-anthony-weiners-pedophilia</p>
| false | 3 |
federal prosecutors asked disgraced former congressman anthony weiner man hillary clinton quietly added become virtually infinite list reasons lost presidential election sentenced two years prison engaging sexting underage 15yearold girl prosecutors filed papers manhattan federal court wednesday advance weiners sentencing document prosecutors asked judge use sentencing opportunity send message perverted politicians government respectfully submits memorandum connection sentencing anthony weiner scheduled september 25 2017160following guilty plea transferring obscene material minor although defendants selfdestructive path united states congressman felon indisputably sad crime serious demonstrated need deterrence real160the noncustodial sentence weiner proposes simply inadequate crime deserves time prison160for reasons set forth government respectfully requests court sentence weiner term imprisonment within range 21 27 months weiners sentencing take place almost exactly year new york post published story sexting another woman wasnt wife weiner said would plead guilty may prosecutors brought charges following revelations also sexted 15yearold met twitter girl father told daily mail weiner knew underaged corresponding make sure weiner end jail us attorney district new york joon kim laid vivid gruesome detail circumstances pedophilia taken prosecutor memorandum evening january 23 2016 15yearold girl minor victim initiated contact defendant sending direct message twitter next several hours minor victim weiner exchanged series messages ranging mundane provocative early exchange160the minor victim revealed weiner high school160despite knowing communicating high school student weiner participated increasingly suggestive exchanges telling minor victim among things thought kinda sorta gorgeous communications continued next morning facebook messenger moved kik later point confide snapchat latter three messaging photosharing applications delete messages images viewed 160 january turned february intermittent exchanges grew lascivious despite fact could reasonable doubt weiners mind chatting minor addition revealed high school student minor victim told weiner getting learners permit explained facebook chats parents wouldnt approve things likes older guys thats illegal defendant correctly observed young one kik message 160 backdrop february 17 23 2016 weiner minor victim participated three video chat sessions skype 160 dispute minor victim repeatedly suggested defendant participate video chats skype suggestions however onesided example twitter records reveal first exchanges night january 23 2016 point minor victim suggested skype defendant said leave complex stuff skype night well suggestive exchange defendant said maybe skype someday thus although minor victim initially sought weiner government readily concedes weiner immediately responded minor victims overture willingly participated offense conduct thereafter 160 minor victim made clear minor fact 15 years old160that stop weiner latter two skype sessions february 18 23 2016 snapchat communication march 9 2016 defendant used graphic obscene language ask minor victim display naked body touch did160he also sent obscene message minor victim confide describing would 18 part parcel disturbing criminal exchanges defendant also sent minor victim adult pornography approximately march 2016 several months intermittent exchanges communications defendant minor victim largely stopped minor victim made efforts reengage met limited responsiveness 160 instant conduct revealed public law enforcement september 2016 daily mail published minor victims account communications weiner participated paid interview commentary proscuting attorney merely sexting case defendant far exchange typed words lifeless cellphone screen faceless stranger full knowledge communicating real 15yearold girl defendant asked engage sexually explicit conduct via skype snapchat body display asked sexually perform offense transmitting obscenity minor induce engage sexually explicit conduct video chat photo far mere sexting weiners criminal conduct serious sentence imposed reflect seriousness 160 defendant claims responded victims request sexually explicit messages teenager spite government contend weiner engaged inappropriate sexual exchanges minors pedophile professed ambivalence towards minor victims age belied defendants statements courtappointed evaluator evaluation moreover defendant acknowledged interest legal adult teenthemed pornography context admitted interest insistence deserves lighter sentence minor victims age meant nothing him160rings hollow160even court credit weiners claim ambivalence minor victims age purported ambivalence part problem victim minor therefore conduct serious crime deter weiner forging ahead 160 defendants submission repeatedly makes note 15yearold minor victims various motives communicating weiner profit sharing communications media careful cast blame minor victim outright disclaim ultimate responsibility crime relies part circumstances communications arguing sentence probation argument rejected weiner sentenced motived minor victim160weiner grown man father former lawmaker willfully knowingly asked 15yearold girl display body engage sexually explicit conduct online conduct warrants meaningful sentence incarceration defense lawyers portrayed girl aggressor saying wanted generate material book possibly influence presidential election160prosecutors responded weiner sentenced victims motives influence punishment defense lawyer declined comment wednesday weiner 53 said submission last week hes undergoing treatment profoundly sorry subjecting north carolina high school student lawyers called deep sickness plea bargain weiner agreed appeal sentence 21 27 months prosecutors said sentence fall within span noted probation office authorities recommended 27month prison term sentenced prison next monday full sentencing guildeline filed prosecutors 160 ltiframe srchttpswwwscribdcomembeds359455485contentstart_page1ampampview_modescrollampampaccess_keykeyvwpconlam13baisvrmucampampshow_recommendationstrue width100 height600 frameborder0 scrollingno datamcefragment1gtltiframegt commentary jon masters 160 source 160httpwwwzerohedgecomnews20170920prosecutorsunveilfulldetailsanthonyweinerspedophilia
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<p>Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett was charged criminally today with funneling $23 million in contracts to her former employers, including the now-infamous no-bid professional development contract that went to SUPES Academy. In exchange, prosecutors say, she was promised hundreds of thousands of dollars in future kickbacks.</p>
<p>Byrd-Bennett, 66, is cooperating with authorities&#160;and will plead guilty, her attorney says.</p>
<p>“As part of accepting full responsibility for her conduct, she will continue to cooperate with the government, including testifying truthfully if called upon to do so,” attorney Michael Scudder wrote in a statement.</p>
<p>Zachary Fardon, the top federal prosecutor for the Chicago area, said that Byrd-Bennett and the owners of SUPES and a related company, Synesi Associates, “entered a scheme to secretly profit at the expense of schools” and then “worked to hide and conceal their graft.”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/file/782216/download" type="external">According to the indictment,</a> the kickbacks to Byrd-Bennett would have been disguised as a “signing bonus” when she returned to SUPES as a consultant with “lucrative compensation” after leaving CPS. The kickbacks were supposed to total 10 percent of the contracts she pushed toward the company and would have been deposited into “college fund” accounts in the names of two relatives — apparently her two young grandsons, who live in the Cleveland area.</p>
<p>“If you only join for the day, you will be the highest paid person on the planet for that day,” one of SUPES’ co-owners, Gary Solomon, wrote to Byrd-Bennett in an email in 2012.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/former-chief-executive-chicago-public-schools-indicted-accepting-bribes-and-kickbacks" type="external">During a press conference</a> Thursday, prosecutors noted that the indictment doesn’t say she actually received any of the money — just the promise of a future payment.</p>
<p>Details on indictment</p>
<p>The federal corruption investigation came in the wake of a <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2013/07/20-million-no-bid-contract-raises-questions-about-supes-academy/" type="external">Catalyst investigation</a>published in July 2013 that detailed Byrd-Bennett’s connection with the for-profit, Wilmette-based SUPES Academy, which received a $20 million no-bid contract from CPS that June.</p>
<p>James Sullivan, the CPS inspector general at the time, began <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2013/12/supes-academy-contract-under-scrutiny-inspector-general/" type="external">investigating</a> Byrd-Bennett and the controversial SUPES contract soon after the initial report by Catalyst. His office eventually passed the case to federal authorities.</p>
<p>During the press conference, Fardon credited former Catalyst deputy editor Sarah Karp’s reporting for sparking the investigation. Karp, who is now with the Better Government Association, penned an <a href="http://www.bettergov.org/blogs/investigators_notebook/education_reporter_raised_questions_about_cps_chief_two_years_ago/" type="external">essay on the indictment on Thursday</a>.</p>
<p>U.S. District Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Zachary Fardon announces the indictment of former CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett at a Thursday press conference.</p>
<p>In all, Byrd-Bennett was charged with 15 counts of mail fraud and five counts of wire fraud. Each count is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, in addition to hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.</p>
<p>SUPES’ co-owners, Solomon and Tom Vranas, also were named in the indictment. Solomon’s lawyer suggested his client would plead guilty to the charges, while Vranas’ lawyer declined to comment on the case, <a href="http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/7/71/1019851/bennett-charged-kickback-scheme" type="external">according to the Sun-Times</a>.</p>
<p>Byrd-Bennett, a former educator and principal who’d previously held leadership positions in the New York City, Cleveland and Detroit school districts, had worked as a trainer for SUPES beginning in the summer of 2011. She was hired in Chicago in 2012, quickly ascending from her role as a consultant to chief education officer and eventually CEO in that same year. She earned $250,000 as CEO.</p>
<p>SUPES was already in CPS when Byrd-Bennett arrived, as the privately funded Chicago Public Education Fund had given the group a contract to run a leadership development program for network chiefs and their deputies. The Fund <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2015/05/public-ed-fund-private-role/" type="external">quietly ended the contract</a> in 2012, but CPS soon picked up the tab.</p>
<p>As CEO, Byrd-Bennett pushed first for a $2 million contract for SUPES in 2012 and eventually the $20 million no-bid contract. She made it “clear that she wanted those sole-source contracts to go to SUPES,” Fardon said during Thursday’s press conference.</p>
<p>The federal prosecutor says Byrd-Bennett misled CPS officials about the contracts and failed to disclose her relationship to the companies on an ethics form.</p>
<p>The indictment shows that Byrd-Bennett and her two co-defendants emailed regularly — and in some detail — about the alleged kickbacks.</p>
<p>“I think those emails reflect greed,” Fardon told reporters. “I think they reflect a public official who compromised her integrity and the integrity of her professional responsibility by looking to line her own pockets.”</p>
<p>Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and would not comment on whether any other CPS employees or the superintendents of other school districts also are suspected of taking bribes in connection to the principal-training company.</p>
<p>Early on, Catalyst had found a number of situations in which superintendents worked as coaches and or trainers for SUPES, while their school districts simultaneously had contracts with the company.</p>
<p>Swift reactions</p>
<p>Byrd-Bennett stepped down from her CEO post soon after authorities <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2015/04/feds-investigate-20-million-supes-contract-byrd-bennett-ties/" type="external">began subpoenaing district records</a> in connection to the case in April. Even so, the indictment is a blow to the beleaguered school district and to Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who tapped her for CEO after his first appointee, Jean Claude Brizard, resigned in the wake of the 2012 teachers strike.</p>
<p>In a brief statement, Emanuel said he was “disappointed to learn about the criminal activity that led to today’s indictment” and that Chicago’s families, teachers and principals “deserve better.”</p>
<p>Forrest Claypool — who took over as CPS CEO in July after a brief stint by Board Member Jesse Ruiz — told Catalyst he could not comment on the indictment but said that CPS has and will continue to cooperate with federal authorities in the ongoing investigation.</p>
<p>Asked how the district can prevent another SUPES debacle, Claypool said that “any good organization needs good controls, and obviously we’re working hard to make sure that we’re running the best and most effective management operation possible… But you know, there’s no magic bullet for integrity.”</p>
<p>Since the federal investigation came to light&#160;in&#160;April, <a href="http://catalystchicago.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Accenture-Report-Press-Release-082615.pdf" type="external">CPS&#160;ordered an independent&#160;review</a> of single-source contracting and&#160;has begun publishing these contracts online to improve&#160;transparency. More changes are still expected.</p>
<p>Questions early on</p>
<p>The timing of the School Board’s vote on the $20 million contract raised some eyebrows early on. As Catalyst noted at the time, it was the largest no-bid contract that CPS had awarded in recent history — and it came barely a month after the controversial decision to shutter 50 schools.</p>
<p>Former School Board member Carlos Azcoitia, who was out of the country when his colleagues voted unanimously for the SUPES deal, says he was shocked to learn such an “exorbitant” amount was given to a company few people in Chicago had ever heard of so soon after the historic closures.</p>
<p>“I never suspected that someone with that level of experience in different school districts would just take a personal benefit out of all of this at a time that was so difficult for Chicago… when we should have been putting our limited resources into neighborhood schools,” said Azcoitia, a former administrator and principal.</p>
<p>The contract was also troublesome for leaders of local universities who questioned why they did not have the opportunity to bid on the contract.</p>
<p>But the biggest criticism came from principals who were required to sit through training they felt was subpar and led by administrators from other districts who knew nothing about the problems principals face in Chicago.</p>
<p>During a <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2014/06/talking-principals-part-2-supes-academy/" type="external">roundtable discussion</a> with Catalyst last year, Blaine Elementary Principal Troy LaRaviere said the trainings were a waste of time. At the sole session that went well, LaRaviere says, the trainer admitted he went “off script.”</p>
<p>“I realized the reason it went so well was he decided to stop and not do the SUPES curriculum and actually just let us talk to each other,” LaRaviere said. “CPS didn’t have to pay SUPES $20 million to put principals in a room together and let us talk to each other.”</p>
<p>Emails cited in the indictment painted the training in a much more positive light. In one email sent in April 2012, Solomon told Byrd-Bennett that when “this stint at CPS is done and you are ready retire, we have your spot waiting for you…. In the meantime, if we can figure a way to do deep principal PD at CPS, I can find a good home for [friends] and others, and make sure principals in CPS get kick-ass training with-kick ass coaching.”</p>
<p>Last year CPS leaders began allowing principals to opt out of the training, although they insisted that they were still responsible for the knowledge provided during them.</p>
<p>Systemic problem</p>
<p>The district finally cancelled the SUPES contract in April of this year, after details of the federal investigation surfaced. The company received $12 million of the no-bid contract. Federal authorities are seeking restitution from Solomon, Vranas and the two companies; prosecutors would not discuss Byrd-Bennett’s possible plea agreement.</p>
<p>Over the summer, Atlantic Research Partners bought SUPES Academy — which has been rebranded as the National Superintendents Academy. Joseph Wise, one of its new owners, formerly worked for SUPES and recently sought to open eight privately run alternative programs for dropouts in CPS, the <a href="http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/7/71/1007957/new-owner-firm-probe-wants-cps-business" type="external">Sun-Times has reported</a>. The district said it <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2015/10/take-5-tense-charter-hearings-dyett-boundaries-set-new-preschool-study/" type="external">wouldn’t open new programs this year</a>, citing the budget crisis.</p>
<p>Wendy Katten of the parent group Raise Your Hand, says the SUPES scandal illustrates a systemic problem as CPS increasingly privatizes services previously done by the district itself. The district has, for example, privatized&#160;janitorial services and the management of&#160;nursing&#160;services while expanding the number of privately run charter schools.</p>
<p>“We’ve seen tons of money being shifted from the public good — from public schools — to privately run schools and to private vendors like ed tech,” says Katten, whose group has tallied up about $1 billion in private contracts given out by the district per year. “When that happens we lose the oversight… and [it] makes the system ripe for fraud and abuse.”</p>
<p>Catalyst reporting intern Stephanie Choporis contributed to this report.</p>
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former chicago public schools ceo barbara byrdbennett charged criminally today funneling 23 million contracts former employers including nowinfamous nobid professional development contract went supes academy exchange prosecutors say promised hundreds thousands dollars future kickbacks byrdbennett 66 cooperating authorities160and plead guilty attorney says part accepting full responsibility conduct continue cooperate government including testifying truthfully called upon attorney michael scudder wrote statement zachary fardon top federal prosecutor chicago area said byrdbennett owners supes related company synesi associates entered scheme secretly profit expense schools worked hide conceal graft according indictment kickbacks byrdbennett would disguised signing bonus returned supes consultant lucrative compensation leaving cps kickbacks supposed total 10 percent contracts pushed toward company would deposited college fund accounts names two relatives apparently two young grandsons live cleveland area join day highest paid person planet day one supes coowners gary solomon wrote byrdbennett email 2012 press conference thursday prosecutors noted indictment doesnt say actually received money promise future payment details indictment federal corruption investigation came wake catalyst investigationpublished july 2013 detailed byrdbennetts connection forprofit wilmettebased supes academy received 20 million nobid contract cps june james sullivan cps inspector general time began investigating byrdbennett controversial supes contract soon initial report catalyst office eventually passed case federal authorities press conference fardon credited former catalyst deputy editor sarah karps reporting sparking investigation karp better government association penned essay indictment thursday us district attorney northern district illinois zachary fardon announces indictment former cps ceo barbara byrdbennett thursday press conference byrdbennett charged 15 counts mail fraud five counts wire fraud count punishable 20 years prison addition hundreds thousands dollars fines supes coowners solomon tom vranas also named indictment solomons lawyer suggested client would plead guilty charges vranas lawyer declined comment case according suntimes byrdbennett former educator principal whod previously held leadership positions new york city cleveland detroit school districts worked trainer supes beginning summer 2011 hired chicago 2012 quickly ascending role consultant chief education officer eventually ceo year earned 250000 ceo supes already cps byrdbennett arrived privately funded chicago public education fund given group contract run leadership development program network chiefs deputies fund quietly ended contract 2012 cps soon picked tab ceo byrdbennett pushed first 2 million contract supes 2012 eventually 20 million nobid contract made clear wanted solesource contracts go supes fardon said thursdays press conference federal prosecutor says byrdbennett misled cps officials contracts failed disclose relationship companies ethics form indictment shows byrdbennett two codefendants emailed regularly detail alleged kickbacks think emails reflect greed fardon told reporters think reflect public official compromised integrity integrity professional responsibility looking line pockets authorities say investigation ongoing would comment whether cps employees superintendents school districts also suspected taking bribes connection principaltraining company early catalyst found number situations superintendents worked coaches trainers supes school districts simultaneously contracts company swift reactions byrdbennett stepped ceo post soon authorities began subpoenaing district records connection case april even indictment blow beleaguered school district mayor rahm emanuel tapped ceo first appointee jean claude brizard resigned wake 2012 teachers strike brief statement emanuel said disappointed learn criminal activity led todays indictment chicagos families teachers principals deserve better forrest claypool took cps ceo july brief stint board member jesse ruiz told catalyst could comment indictment said cps continue cooperate federal authorities ongoing investigation asked district prevent another supes debacle claypool said good organization needs good controls obviously working hard make sure running best effective management operation possible know theres magic bullet integrity since federal investigation came light160in160april cps160ordered independent160review singlesource contracting and160has begun publishing contracts online improve160transparency changes still expected questions early timing school boards vote 20 million contract raised eyebrows early catalyst noted time largest nobid contract cps awarded recent history came barely month controversial decision shutter 50 schools former school board member carlos azcoitia country colleagues voted unanimously supes deal says shocked learn exorbitant amount given company people chicago ever heard soon historic closures never suspected someone level experience different school districts would take personal benefit time difficult chicago putting limited resources neighborhood schools said azcoitia former administrator principal contract also troublesome leaders local universities questioned opportunity bid contract biggest criticism came principals required sit training felt subpar led administrators districts knew nothing problems principals face chicago roundtable discussion catalyst last year blaine elementary principal troy laraviere said trainings waste time sole session went well laraviere says trainer admitted went script realized reason went well decided stop supes curriculum actually let us talk laraviere said cps didnt pay supes 20 million put principals room together let us talk emails cited indictment painted training much positive light one email sent april 2012 solomon told byrdbennett stint cps done ready retire spot waiting meantime figure way deep principal pd cps find good home friends others make sure principals cps get kickass training withkick ass coaching last year cps leaders began allowing principals opt training although insisted still responsible knowledge provided systemic problem district finally cancelled supes contract april year details federal investigation surfaced company received 12 million nobid contract federal authorities seeking restitution solomon vranas two companies prosecutors would discuss byrdbennetts possible plea agreement summer atlantic research partners bought supes academy rebranded national superintendents academy joseph wise one new owners formerly worked supes recently sought open eight privately run alternative programs dropouts cps suntimes reported district said wouldnt open new programs year citing budget crisis wendy katten parent group raise hand says supes scandal illustrates systemic problem cps increasingly privatizes services previously done district district example privatized160janitorial services management of160nursing160services expanding number privately run charter schools weve seen tons money shifted public good public schools privately run schools private vendors like ed tech says katten whose group tallied 1 billion private contracts given district per year happens lose oversight makes system ripe fraud abuse catalyst reporting intern stephanie choporis contributed report
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<p>[UPDATED]</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (ABP) — The first shoe dropped in America's legal debate over gay-marriage when a closely divided Massachusetts court ruled Nov. 18 that a state agency could not deny same-sex couples the right to marry.</p>
<p>The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's 4-3 decision stopped short of issuing marriage licenses immediately to the gay and lesbian couples who were the case's plaintiffs. The justices gave the state's legislature 180 days to enact statutes creating same-sex marriage.</p>
<p>The decision, unless overruled by a state constitutional amendment, will make Massachusetts the first legal jurisdiction in the United States to sanction same-sex marriage. Neighboring Vermont has a civil-union law that offers same-sex couples most of the legal rights of marriage while reserving the term “marriage” for opposite-sex couples.</p>
<p>In the court's opinion, authored by Chief Justice Margaret Marshall, the majority said the decision was a simple matter of interpretation of the state constitution. “The question before us is whether, consistent with the Massachusetts Constitution, the Commonwealth may deny the protections, benefits and obligations conferred by civil marriage to two individuals of the same sex who wish to marry,” Marshall wrote. “We conclude that it may not.”</p>
<p>Marshall noted that the commonwealth's attorneys had “failed to identify any constitutionally adequate reason for denying civil marriage to same-sex couples” in state law.</p>
<p>She also took care to point out that the court's decision did not extend to religious opinions or sanction of marriage. Noting that civil marriage has been defined in secular terms in the state's law since colonial days, Marshall and her colleagues said their decision was based on secular reasoning as well.</p>
<p>“Many people hold deep-seated religious, moral and ethical convictions that marriage should be limited to the union of one man and one woman, and that homosexual conduct is immoral,” she wrote, adding that other people support gay marriage based on religious grounds. “Neither view answers the question before us. Our concern is with the Massachusetts Constitution as a charter of governance for every person properly within its reach.”</p>
<p>Marshall also referred to the U.S. Supreme Court's June decision, in Lawrence vs. Texas, to overturn state laws banning same-sex intimacy.</p>
<p>“There, the court affirmed that the core concept of common human dignity protected by the fourteenth amendment to the United States Constitution precludes government intrusion into the deeply personal realms of consensual adult expressions of intimacy and one's choice of an intimate partner,” Marshall wrote. “The court also reaffirmed the central role that decisions whether to marry or have children bear in shaping one's identity.</p>
<p>“The Massachusetts Constitution is, if anything, more protective of individual liberty and equality than the Federal Constitution; it may demand broader protection for fundamental rights; and it is less tolerant of government intrusion into the protected spheres of private life.”</p>
<p>The case, Goodridge vs. Massachusetts Department of Health, began when seven gay and lesbian couples from five different Massachusetts counties applied for marriage licenses in their respective jurisdictions. All were denied licenses. They then filed suit against the state in 2001.</p>
<p>Their attorney, Mary Bonauto, hailed the decision. “This is a very good day for gay and lesbian families in Massachusetts and throughout the country,” she said, according to the Associated Press.</p>
<p>However, Justice Robert Cordy, in one of three dissenting opinions that accompanied the ruling, said the court had overstepped its bounds. “[T]his case is not about government intrusions into matters of personal liberty. It is not about the rights of same-sex couples to choose to live together, or to be intimate with each other, or to adopt and raise children together,” Cordy wrote.</p>
<p>“It is about whether the state must endorse and support their choices by changing the institution of civil marriage to make its benefits, obligations and responsibilities applicable to them. While the courageous efforts of many have resulted in increased dignity, rights and respect for gay and lesbian members of our community, the issue presented here is a profound one, deeply rooted in social policy, that must, for now, be the subject of legislative not judicial action.”</p>
<p>Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney — a moderate Republican and a Mormon — reportedly criticized the ruling and announced his support for a proposed anti-gay-marriage amendment to the state constitution. However, Romney also has said he endorses the granting of some marriage-like benefits to same-sex couples.</p>
<p>A more restrictive amendment that would ban marriage and all its “legal incidents” for same-sex couples is currently before the U.S. House of Representatives.</p>
<p>President Bush, calling marriage “a sacred institution between a man and a woman,” said, “Today's decision of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court violates this important principle. I will work with congressional leaders and others to do what is legally necessary to defend the sanctity of marriage.”</p>
<p>The specter of legalized gay marriage has raised especially dire warnings among supporters of the Religious Right. Tony Perkins, president of the Washington-based Family Research Council, released a statement shortly after the decision saying the decision was “the wake-up call for both the American public and our elected officials.”</p>
<p>Perkins continued: “If we do not amend the Massachusetts State Constitution so that it explicitly protects marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and if we do not amend the U.S. Constitution with a federal marriage amendment that will protect marriage on the federal level, we will lose marriage in this nation.”</p>
<p>However, a new study, released the day of the Massachusetts decision, suggests support for the Federal Marriage Amendment may not be as strong as conservatives hope.</p>
<p>The survey on Americans' attitudes toward religion and homosexuality, taken by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life nearly a month before the Massachusetts decision, showed 59 percent of the respondents oppose gay marriage. But only 10 percent said they believe the Constitution should be amended to prohibit it, saying normal legislative means would be enough.</p>
<p>Attempts to reach representatives of the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, a pro-gay-rights group, were unsuccessful by press time.</p>
<p>In addition to the Vermont civil-union law, courts in Hawaii and Alaska have previously ruled that the states did not have a right to deny marriage to gay couples. In those two states, the decisions were followed by the adoption of state constitutional amendments limiting marriage to heterosexual couples. No American court has ordered the issuance of a marriage license to same-sex couples.</p>
<p>-30-</p>
| false | 3 |
updated washington abp first shoe dropped americas legal debate gaymarriage closely divided massachusetts court ruled nov 18 state agency could deny samesex couples right marry massachusetts supreme judicial courts 43 decision stopped short issuing marriage licenses immediately gay lesbian couples cases plaintiffs justices gave states legislature 180 days enact statutes creating samesex marriage decision unless overruled state constitutional amendment make massachusetts first legal jurisdiction united states sanction samesex marriage neighboring vermont civilunion law offers samesex couples legal rights marriage reserving term marriage oppositesex couples courts opinion authored chief justice margaret marshall majority said decision simple matter interpretation state constitution question us whether consistent massachusetts constitution commonwealth may deny protections benefits obligations conferred civil marriage two individuals sex wish marry marshall wrote conclude may marshall noted commonwealths attorneys failed identify constitutionally adequate reason denying civil marriage samesex couples state law also took care point courts decision extend religious opinions sanction marriage noting civil marriage defined secular terms states law since colonial days marshall colleagues said decision based secular reasoning well many people hold deepseated religious moral ethical convictions marriage limited union one man one woman homosexual conduct immoral wrote adding people support gay marriage based religious grounds neither view answers question us concern massachusetts constitution charter governance every person properly within reach marshall also referred us supreme courts june decision lawrence vs texas overturn state laws banning samesex intimacy court affirmed core concept common human dignity protected fourteenth amendment united states constitution precludes government intrusion deeply personal realms consensual adult expressions intimacy ones choice intimate partner marshall wrote court also reaffirmed central role decisions whether marry children bear shaping ones identity massachusetts constitution anything protective individual liberty equality federal constitution may demand broader protection fundamental rights less tolerant government intrusion protected spheres private life case goodridge vs massachusetts department health began seven gay lesbian couples five different massachusetts counties applied marriage licenses respective jurisdictions denied licenses filed suit state 2001 attorney mary bonauto hailed decision good day gay lesbian families massachusetts throughout country said according associated press however justice robert cordy one three dissenting opinions accompanied ruling said court overstepped bounds case government intrusions matters personal liberty rights samesex couples choose live together intimate adopt raise children together cordy wrote whether state must endorse support choices changing institution civil marriage make benefits obligations responsibilities applicable courageous efforts many resulted increased dignity rights respect gay lesbian members community issue presented profound one deeply rooted social policy must subject legislative judicial action massachusetts gov mitt romney moderate republican mormon reportedly criticized ruling announced support proposed antigaymarriage amendment state constitution however romney also said endorses granting marriagelike benefits samesex couples restrictive amendment would ban marriage legal incidents samesex couples currently us house representatives president bush calling marriage sacred institution man woman said todays decision massachusetts supreme judicial court violates important principle work congressional leaders others legally necessary defend sanctity marriage specter legalized gay marriage raised especially dire warnings among supporters religious right tony perkins president washingtonbased family research council released statement shortly decision saying decision wakeup call american public elected officials perkins continued amend massachusetts state constitution explicitly protects marriage union one man one woman amend us constitution federal marriage amendment protect marriage federal level lose marriage nation however new study released day massachusetts decision suggests support federal marriage amendment may strong conservatives hope survey americans attitudes toward religion homosexuality taken pew forum religion public life nearly month massachusetts decision showed 59 percent respondents oppose gay marriage 10 percent said believe constitution amended prohibit saying normal legislative means would enough attempts reach representatives association welcoming affirming baptists progayrights group unsuccessful press time addition vermont civilunion law courts hawaii alaska previously ruled states right deny marriage gay couples two states decisions followed adoption state constitutional amendments limiting marriage heterosexual couples american court ordered issuance marriage license samesex couples 30
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<p>Concerns about conflicts of interest with the Academy for Urban School Leadership and CPS were raised once again in recent letters to the inspectors general of CPS and the U.S. Department of Education. But one point raised by critics has not been explored much, even though it is central to the question of potential conflicts.</p>
<p>“Why are these [contracts] put out on a no-bid basis?” asked Austin community activist Dwayne Truss at a Monday press conference held in front of the building that houses the regional offices of the U.S. Department of Education. “AUSL has an exclusive, no-bid contract with CPS. Competing organizations are not taken seriously.”</p>
<p>This year, three schools are slated to be turned around, a process that entails firing the entire staff and replacing them. AUSL, which will handle the turnarounds, is a non-profit teacher training program and receives $300,000 in upfront funding as well as an additional $420 a year per student for five years.</p>
<p>AUSL is awarded turnarounds through a “School Management Consulting Agreement.” Such an agreement is unique and CPS officials say they are not legally compelled to put out a Request for Proposals (nor does anything prevent them from seeking multiple proposals).</p>
<p>Board member Jesse Ruiz says CPS “should always critically review all of our contracts… We should always be reviewing alternatives to make sure we provide the best for children and the City of Chicago.”</p>
<p>No way to benefit financially&#160;</p>
<p>According to district officials, AUSL’s big selling point this year was that 13 of the 16 turnarounds that the organization has managed for more than a year posted higher-than-average academic growth. Yet Valerie Leonard, another West Side activist fighting against the turnarounds, notes that many non-turnaround schools have shown similar progress.</p>
<p>Further, under Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the ties between CPS and AUSL have become stronger, which may be another good reason to make sure the process of awarding the contract is competitive and fair. Emanuel appointed former top AUSL officials David Vitale as board president and hired Tim Cawley as chief administrative officer.</p>
<p>Hood notes that Vitale and Cawley have no way to financially benefit from the contract. &#160;&#160;</p>
<p>The letters also say that board member Carlos Azcoitia might have the most to gain from CPS contracting with AUSL. He is a professor at National-Louis University, a college that trains teachers working in AUSL-managed schools. However, Azcoitia recused himself from the vote to give control of the three schools to AUSL, though he did vote separately in favor of the turnaround in general.</p>
<p>Truss also alleges that campaign contributions from AUSL board members and their partners totaling more than $60,000 might be influencing Emanuel. AUSL has 33 board members that range from a managing director of the Boston Consulting Group to the vice president of personal wealth management at Goldman Sachs.</p>
<p>Not the only group</p>
<p>Though it seems like a given these days, AUSL was not always seen as the preferred turnaround provider.</p>
<p>In 2006, AUSL was one of five vendors given pre-approved status to undertake “new school models.” Three of the vendors, including AUSL, were supposed to do a mix of turnarounds and “new starts,” while two were just to do “new starts.” AUSL was supposed to have 2,000 students in the schools it managed. Today, some 19,000 are in AUSL schools.</p>
<p>The other vendors were charter school operators. None of them ever took over schools. CPS <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2008/05/anyone-want-turnaround/" type="external">tried in 2008</a>to get charter operators to handle turnarounds. But the operators were concerned that they couldn’t be successful without the autonomy of being a charter school, and the plans never went through.</p>
<p>The landscape has changed since then. Under the federal School Improvement Grant program, school districts had to find outside partners to work with to improve schools. More groups stepped up and Illinois now has 13 approved vendors.</p>
<p>One of the vendors, Atlantic Research Partners, might be open to doing turnarounds in CPS but has never been given a chance to bid, says Atlantic’s Todd Zoellick, who works with schools elsewhere in Illinois.</p>
<p>CPS spokesman Joel Hood says the district would have to look carefully at other groups that purport to be able to do turnarounds, and that CPS is happy with AUSL’s results.</p>
<p>Though he has been impressed with AUSL’s results at Marquette Elementary, Azcoitia says he would like for CPS to develop its internal capacity to overhaul struggling schools. He notes that with budget constraints, the district’s new Office of Strategic School Support Services, known as OS4,&#160;is less expensive than contracting out the service.</p>
<p>OS4, Strategic Learning Initiatives</p>
<p>Rather than firing an entire school staff and starting from scratch, OS4 offers professional development and training for existing employees and oversees school improvement funds at these “reinvestment schools.” It also oversees the implementation of the federal School Improvement Grant program.</p>
<p>Another alternative is <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2011/01/improve-schools-stop-guessing-and-start-using-research/" type="external">Strategic Learning Initiatives, which also works with existing teachers and staff</a>. SLI’s model costs less than $200,000 per year and includes a school leadership team and on-site coaching for teachers and principals.</p>
<p>Last week, parents, faculty and community members from four schools slated for turnaround assembled at AUSL headquarters to ask CPS to approve the SLI School Transformation Process instead. Faculties at Barton, Carter, Dewey and Louis elementary schools have voted overwhelmingly to use SLI instead.</p>
<p>“CPS has already invested in a transformation plan developed by Strategic Learning Initiatives,” said Jesse Sharkey, vice president of the Chicago Teachers Union, in a press release. “It is highly effective, already proven in CPS schools, and can save an enormous amount of money. We urge CPS to embrace this option.”</p>
<p>John Simmons, president of SLI, says his group wants to work with CPS but would resist doing turnarounds in which the entire staff are to be replaced. Turnarounds are “not a cost effective model for transforming a whole set of schools,” Simmons says.</p>
<p>He notes that across the country few school districts are using the turnaround model and instead are now pursuing the less-drastic transformation model, bringing in outside partners to help a school improve.</p>
| false | 3 |
concerns conflicts interest academy urban school leadership cps raised recent letters inspectors general cps us department education one point raised critics explored much even though central question potential conflicts contracts put nobid basis asked austin community activist dwayne truss monday press conference held front building houses regional offices us department education ausl exclusive nobid contract cps competing organizations taken seriously year three schools slated turned around process entails firing entire staff replacing ausl handle turnarounds nonprofit teacher training program receives 300000 upfront funding well additional 420 year per student five years ausl awarded turnarounds school management consulting agreement agreement unique cps officials say legally compelled put request proposals anything prevent seeking multiple proposals board member jesse ruiz says cps always critically review contracts always reviewing alternatives make sure provide best children city chicago way benefit financially160 according district officials ausls big selling point year 13 16 turnarounds organization managed year posted higherthanaverage academic growth yet valerie leonard another west side activist fighting turnarounds notes many nonturnaround schools shown similar progress mayor rahm emanuel ties cps ausl become stronger may another good reason make sure process awarding contract competitive fair emanuel appointed former top ausl officials david vitale board president hired tim cawley chief administrative officer hood notes vitale cawley way financially benefit contract 160160 letters also say board member carlos azcoitia might gain cps contracting ausl professor nationallouis university college trains teachers working auslmanaged schools however azcoitia recused vote give control three schools ausl though vote separately favor turnaround general truss also alleges campaign contributions ausl board members partners totaling 60000 might influencing emanuel ausl 33 board members range managing director boston consulting group vice president personal wealth management goldman sachs group though seems like given days ausl always seen preferred turnaround provider 2006 ausl one five vendors given preapproved status undertake new school models three vendors including ausl supposed mix turnarounds new starts two new starts ausl supposed 2000 students schools managed today 19000 ausl schools vendors charter school operators none ever took schools cps tried 2008to get charter operators handle turnarounds operators concerned couldnt successful without autonomy charter school plans never went landscape changed since federal school improvement grant program school districts find outside partners work improve schools groups stepped illinois 13 approved vendors one vendors atlantic research partners might open turnarounds cps never given chance bid says atlantics todd zoellick works schools elsewhere illinois cps spokesman joel hood says district would look carefully groups purport able turnarounds cps happy ausls results though impressed ausls results marquette elementary azcoitia says would like cps develop internal capacity overhaul struggling schools notes budget constraints districts new office strategic school support services known os4160is less expensive contracting service os4 strategic learning initiatives rather firing entire school staff starting scratch os4 offers professional development training existing employees oversees school improvement funds reinvestment schools also oversees implementation federal school improvement grant program another alternative strategic learning initiatives also works existing teachers staff slis model costs less 200000 per year includes school leadership team onsite coaching teachers principals last week parents faculty community members four schools slated turnaround assembled ausl headquarters ask cps approve sli school transformation process instead faculties barton carter dewey louis elementary schools voted overwhelmingly use sli instead cps already invested transformation plan developed strategic learning initiatives said jesse sharkey vice president chicago teachers union press release highly effective already proven cps schools save enormous amount money urge cps embrace option john simmons president sli says group wants work cps would resist turnarounds entire staff replaced turnarounds cost effective model transforming whole set schools simmons says notes across country school districts using turnaround model instead pursuing lessdrastic transformation model bringing outside partners help school improve
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<p>WASHINGTON/CHICAGO - Oppressive heat and a worsening drought in the U.S. Midwest pushed grain prices near or past records on Wednesday as crops wilted, cities baked and concerns grew about food and fuel price inflation in the world's top food exporter.</p>
<p>Soybean prices at the Chicago Board of Trade set a record high and corn closed near a record as millions of acres of crops seared in triple-digit heat in the Corn Belt. Corn fields have been plowed up in many locations for lack of rain. Now soybeans, which develop later than corn, are in the bull's eye.</p>
<p>"I get on my knees everyday and I'm saying an extra prayer right now," U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told reporters after briefing President Barack Obama. "If I had a rain prayer or a rain dance I could do, I would do it."</p>
<p>Vilsack said the drought was getting worse for hard-hit farmers and the wilting crops will mean higher food prices.</p>
<p>"Part of the problem we're facing is that weather conditions were so good at the beginning of the season that farmers got in the field early, and as a result this drought comes at a very difficult and painful time in their ability to have their crops have good yield," Vilsack said.</p>
<p>Drought conditions now extend over more than 60 percent of the lower 48 states, the government said. The Department of Agriculture on Wednesday extended drought aid to an additional 39 counties designated as primary natural disaster areas, bringing such aid to a total of 1,297 counties across 29 states.</p>
<p>Vilsack said rising grain prices would mean meat and poultry prices will be higher this year and next, although the inflation may be delayed as farmers start culling their herds due to high feed prices and meat supplies stay adequate.</p>
<p>But the outlook for higher food prices could add up to another headache for Obama as he faces a November election with high joblessness and slower economic growth.</p>
<p>Hard-hit livestock producers and other groups want the Environmental Protection Agency to give oil refiners a waiver from the mandate to blend ethanol into gasoline, arguing demand for the corn-based fuel was driving up corn prices. About 40 percent of the U.S. corn crop now is used to produce ethanol.</p>
<p>But Vilsack said there was no need for such action as yet.</p>
<p>"There is no need to go to the EPA at this time based on the quantity of ethanol that is in storage," he said.</p>
<p>The U.S. drought is expected to be felt worldwide as the world's biggest grain exporter struggles with shortfalls. The United States exports more than half of all world corn shipments and is also the single top exporter of wheat and soy.</p>
<p>"The dramatic rise in grain prices in the past few weeks is shaping up to be a serious financial blow for wheat importing countries," one German trader said on Monday.</p>
<p>"African and Middle Eastern countries are now facing painful rises in import bills."</p>
<p>WEATHER OUTLOOK STILL HOT AND DRY</p>
<p>Forecasters were calling for scattered showers on Wednesday evening in some parts of the east coast and Midwest. But relief was seen as too little and too late for many of the key areas of the central Plains and Corn Belt.</p>
<p>"There are no soaking rains in sight, nothing to relieve the drought," said World Weather Inc meteorologist Andy Karst. "There will be some light rains today through Friday in the eastern Midwest."</p>
<p>Iowa and Illinois, which produce about a third of U.S. corn and soybeans, continued to swelter on Wednesday in temperatures at or above 100 degrees (37.8 degrees Celsius) with little to no rain forecast.</p>
<p>Corn prices have jumped more than 50 percent in the last month as the crop wilted in many locations during its key growth stage of pollination.</p>
<p>Corn for September delivery at the Chicago Board of Trade closed at $7.95 a bushel, near last summer's record high of $7.99-3/4. Soybeans for August delivery closed at $16.85-1/2, a new record high.</p>
<p>"Now, it's soybeans' turn. The next two weeks will be critical for them. There is a chance for catastrophic problems in soybeans," said grains analyst Don Roose of U.S. Commodities in Des Moines, Iowa</p>
<p>"The summer of 2012 is on pace to finish third hottest on the list of 62 summers since 1950," said Steven Root, a meteorologist with WeatherBank Inc. "But it is still in the running for number two or one."</p>
<p>In many parts of the country, power grids were under pressure from demand on air conditioning but most were holding up. In New York City, Consolidated Edison reduced its power voltage in some Manhattan neighborhoods, resulting in brownouts.</p>
<p>Low water levels in many lakes and rivers were hampering transportation, with hydroelectric plants tapping water in locations like Arkansas and the Army Corps of Engineers issuing warnings to consumers about water levels.</p>
<p>Water usage for lawns and recreation continued to see restrictions in many areas of the country.</p>
<p>In crop areas, farmers saw further headaches from plant diseases like fungus and crop pests like spider mites on soybeans or rootworms or Japanese beetles in corn that appear in hot weather.</p>
<p>But one silver lining in many areas from weeks of drought was a pleasant surprise: fewer mosquitoes, which lack moist breeding places. "I can live with that part of the drought," said Scott Trout as he left a playground in Westwood, Kansas, with his wife and two children.</p>
<p>(Additional reporting by Timothy Gardner; Writing by Peter Bohan; Editing by Todd Eastham)</p>
| false | 3 |
washingtonchicago oppressive heat worsening drought us midwest pushed grain prices near past records wednesday crops wilted cities baked concerns grew food fuel price inflation worlds top food exporter soybean prices chicago board trade set record high corn closed near record millions acres crops seared tripledigit heat corn belt corn fields plowed many locations lack rain soybeans develop later corn bulls eye get knees everyday im saying extra prayer right us agriculture secretary tom vilsack told reporters briefing president barack obama rain prayer rain dance could would vilsack said drought getting worse hardhit farmers wilting crops mean higher food prices part problem facing weather conditions good beginning season farmers got field early result drought comes difficult painful time ability crops good yield vilsack said drought conditions extend 60 percent lower 48 states government said department agriculture wednesday extended drought aid additional 39 counties designated primary natural disaster areas bringing aid total 1297 counties across 29 states vilsack said rising grain prices would mean meat poultry prices higher year next although inflation may delayed farmers start culling herds due high feed prices meat supplies stay adequate outlook higher food prices could add another headache obama faces november election high joblessness slower economic growth hardhit livestock producers groups want environmental protection agency give oil refiners waiver mandate blend ethanol gasoline arguing demand cornbased fuel driving corn prices 40 percent us corn crop used produce ethanol vilsack said need action yet need go epa time based quantity ethanol storage said us drought expected felt worldwide worlds biggest grain exporter struggles shortfalls united states exports half world corn shipments also single top exporter wheat soy dramatic rise grain prices past weeks shaping serious financial blow wheat importing countries one german trader said monday african middle eastern countries facing painful rises import bills weather outlook still hot dry forecasters calling scattered showers wednesday evening parts east coast midwest relief seen little late many key areas central plains corn belt soaking rains sight nothing relieve drought said world weather inc meteorologist andy karst light rains today friday eastern midwest iowa illinois produce third us corn soybeans continued swelter wednesday temperatures 100 degrees 378 degrees celsius little rain forecast corn prices jumped 50 percent last month crop wilted many locations key growth stage pollination corn september delivery chicago board trade closed 795 bushel near last summers record high 79934 soybeans august delivery closed 168512 new record high soybeans turn next two weeks critical chance catastrophic problems soybeans said grains analyst roose us commodities des moines iowa summer 2012 pace finish third hottest list 62 summers since 1950 said steven root meteorologist weatherbank inc still running number two one many parts country power grids pressure demand air conditioning holding new york city consolidated edison reduced power voltage manhattan neighborhoods resulting brownouts low water levels many lakes rivers hampering transportation hydroelectric plants tapping water locations like arkansas army corps engineers issuing warnings consumers water levels water usage lawns recreation continued see restrictions many areas country crop areas farmers saw headaches plant diseases like fungus crop pests like spider mites soybeans rootworms japanese beetles corn appear hot weather one silver lining many areas weeks drought pleasant surprise fewer mosquitoes lack moist breeding places live part drought said scott trout left playground westwood kansas wife two children additional reporting timothy gardner writing peter bohan editing todd eastham
| 555 |
<p>A boat carrying Rohingya refugees from Myanmar capsized with more than 60 people presumed dead, compounding the ongoing tradegy there.</p>
<p>Half a million Rohingya have crushed into camps in Bangladesh in just over a month, fleeing a Myanmar army campaign and communal violence that the UN describes as "ethnic cleansing."</p>
<p>They have poured over on foot or crossed the Naf river which bisects the two countries in overcrowded boats.</p>
<p>One of them capsized in rough waters on Thursday agonizingly close to the shore, survivors said, as the boat's Bangladeshi captain lost control of the vessel after pushing far out to sea for two days to avoid patrols.</p>
<p>The bodies of 23 people have been retrieved so far but the death toll is expected to surge to around 60, with many of the dead likely to be young children too weak to swim through the heavy waves.</p>
<p>"Forty are missing and presumed drowned," International Organization for Migration spokesman Joel Millman told reporters in Geneva.</p>
<p>Survivor Abdus Salam told AFP the captain steered the boat into trouble within striking distance of the Bangladeshi coastline.</p>
<p>"He didn't see a rock underneath the water and we hit it."</p>
<p>In distressing scenes, refugees on Friday held funerals for loved ones — among them children — who had hoped to find sanctuary from violence that has cut through their homeland in Rakhine state.</p>
<p>A woman carried a small white bundle to a grave for a Muslim burial, while male relatives wept at a school building where bodies had been laid out.</p>
<p>"My wife and two boys survived, but I lost my three daughters," Shona Miah, 32, told AFP.</p>
<p />
<p>People watch as bodies of Rohingya refugees who died after their boat capsized, as they were fleeing Myanmar, are prepared for the funeral, Bangladesh, September 29, 2017.</p>
<p>Damir Sagolj/Reuters</p>
<p>Those who have made it to Bangladesh have been squeezed into a vast makeshift refugee settlement that has become one of the world's biggest in a matter of weeks.</p>
<p>Medical staff say the camps are in imminent danger of disease outbreak, as relief groups are overwhelmed by the numbers of hungry and traumatized Rohingya.</p>
<p>A dire shortage of clean water, toilets and sanitation is spreading disease and pushing the camps to the precipice of a health disaster, the Red Cross warned.</p>
<p>"Our mobile clinics are treating more people, especially children, who are very sick from diarrhoeal diseases which are a direct result of the terrible sanitation conditions," said Mozharul Huq, secretary general of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.</p>
<p>In some of the camps hundreds of refugees are sharing a single toilet, said Martin Faller, of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).</p>
<p>"The conditions for an outbreak of disease are all present — we have to act now and we have to act at scale," he added.</p>
<p>The UNHCR says nearly one in five of arrivals is suffering from "acute malnutrition," while aid groups have pledged to deliver 900,000 doses of cholera vaccine to Bangldesh within two weeks.</p>
<p>Worsening conditions are compelling Rohingya to try to move out of the wedge of land Bangladesh has set aside for the new arrivals.</p>
<p>But Bangladesh police have stopped more than 20,000 Rohingya from going inland, a senior official said Friday, after authorities imposed travel restrictions on the refugees fearing they will move further into the country.</p>
<p>Though Bangladesh is hosting the refugees, it has urged Myanmar to allow a safe return for the Rohingya.</p>
<p>Myanmar says it is ready to begin repatriating refugees to a camp in the Maungdaw district of northern Rakhine.</p>
<p>But rights groups say the criteria for return is convoluted, discriminatory and carefully crafted to take back as few of the minority as possible.</p>
<p>Many Rohingya do not possess the requisite documents to be allowed back or are unwilling to return to villages that have been burnt to the ground.</p>
<p>The Muslim minority are loathed in Myanmar, where they are denied citizenship and are instead branded "Bengalis" — or illegal migrants who do not belong in the Buddhist-majority country.</p>
<p>Attacks on police posts in Rakhine by Rohingya militants on August 25 set the crisis in motion.</p>
<p>The kickback by Myanmar's army killed hundreds and left scores of Rohingya villages in ashes.</p>
<p>Rohingya who fled say they survived slaughter by soldiers and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists who were once their neighbors.</p>
<p>Ethnic Rakhine and Hindus have also been displaced inside Rakhine, accusing Rohingya militants of atrocities.</p>
<p>Rohingya are still on the move and UN chief António Guterres has warned that the "systemic violence" could spill further south to the central part of Rakhine, threatening a further 250,000 Muslims with displacement.</p>
<p>On Thursday the UN Security Council failed to agree on a joint resolution after China and Russia supported Myanmar's right to defend itself.</p>
<p>International pressure has so far done little to rein in Myanmar army operations.</p>
<p>Access to the violence-stricken part of Rakhine is tightly controlled by the military, preventing international aid groups reaching desperate Rohingya left behind or independent reporting on the crisis.</p>
<p>by Nick Perry and Sam Jahan/AFP</p>
<p>More coverage of the Rohingya&#160;crisis:</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">More than half of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are kids. Many are fleeing Myanmar alone.</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Rohingya in Chicago make an emotional plea to the US: 'Help our people'</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Myanmar's critics call Rohingya-only enclaves '21st-century concentration camps'</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Myanmar’s gruesome purge of Rohingya Muslims appears unstoppable</a></p>
| false | 3 |
boat carrying rohingya refugees myanmar capsized 60 people presumed dead compounding ongoing tradegy half million rohingya crushed camps bangladesh month fleeing myanmar army campaign communal violence un describes ethnic cleansing poured foot crossed naf river bisects two countries overcrowded boats one capsized rough waters thursday agonizingly close shore survivors said boats bangladeshi captain lost control vessel pushing far sea two days avoid patrols bodies 23 people retrieved far death toll expected surge around 60 many dead likely young children weak swim heavy waves forty missing presumed drowned international organization migration spokesman joel millman told reporters geneva survivor abdus salam told afp captain steered boat trouble within striking distance bangladeshi coastline didnt see rock underneath water hit distressing scenes refugees friday held funerals loved ones among children hoped find sanctuary violence cut homeland rakhine state woman carried small white bundle grave muslim burial male relatives wept school building bodies laid wife two boys survived lost three daughters shona miah 32 told afp people watch bodies rohingya refugees died boat capsized fleeing myanmar prepared funeral bangladesh september 29 2017 damir sagoljreuters made bangladesh squeezed vast makeshift refugee settlement become one worlds biggest matter weeks medical staff say camps imminent danger disease outbreak relief groups overwhelmed numbers hungry traumatized rohingya dire shortage clean water toilets sanitation spreading disease pushing camps precipice health disaster red cross warned mobile clinics treating people especially children sick diarrhoeal diseases direct result terrible sanitation conditions said mozharul huq secretary general bangladesh red crescent society camps hundreds refugees sharing single toilet said martin faller international federation red cross red crescent societies ifrc conditions outbreak disease present act act scale added unhcr says nearly one five arrivals suffering acute malnutrition aid groups pledged deliver 900000 doses cholera vaccine bangldesh within two weeks worsening conditions compelling rohingya try move wedge land bangladesh set aside new arrivals bangladesh police stopped 20000 rohingya going inland senior official said friday authorities imposed travel restrictions refugees fearing move country though bangladesh hosting refugees urged myanmar allow safe return rohingya myanmar says ready begin repatriating refugees camp maungdaw district northern rakhine rights groups say criteria return convoluted discriminatory carefully crafted take back minority possible many rohingya possess requisite documents allowed back unwilling return villages burnt ground muslim minority loathed myanmar denied citizenship instead branded bengalis illegal migrants belong buddhistmajority country attacks police posts rakhine rohingya militants august 25 set crisis motion kickback myanmars army killed hundreds left scores rohingya villages ashes rohingya fled say survived slaughter soldiers ethnic rakhine buddhists neighbors ethnic rakhine hindus also displaced inside rakhine accusing rohingya militants atrocities rohingya still move un chief antónio guterres warned systemic violence could spill south central part rakhine threatening 250000 muslims displacement thursday un security council failed agree joint resolution china russia supported myanmars right defend international pressure far done little rein myanmar army operations access violencestricken part rakhine tightly controlled military preventing international aid groups reaching desperate rohingya left behind independent reporting crisis nick perry sam jahanafp coverage rohingya160crisis half rohingya refugees bangladesh kids many fleeing myanmar alone rohingya chicago make emotional plea us help people myanmars critics call rohingyaonly enclaves 21stcentury concentration camps myanmars gruesome purge rohingya muslims appears unstoppable
| 526 |
<p>As if traffic snarls, scrubbed flights and power outages weren’t enough misery, the latest bit of winter savagery to hit the Midwest and the East is an extreme shortage of the salt used to clear snow and ice off roadways.</p>
<p>Many cities have been forced to ration salt after weeks of above-average snowfall and bone-chilling temperatures have nearly depleted their stockpiles.</p>
<p>That’s left many streets treacherously slippery, putting motorists, their passengers and pedestrians at risk.</p>
<p>By the end of January, for instance, the Pennsylvania Transportation Department had burned through 686,000 tons of salt — upwards of 200,000 tons more than used during an average year, according to the Associated Press.</p>
<p>In Illinois, Chicago's supply is holding up, but the suburbs are hurting.</p>
<p>"If we don't get the salt, at some point people are going to be sliding all over the place like what you saw in Atlanta," Julius Hansen, the public works director in the Chicago suburb of Glen Ellyn, told the AP, referencing the motorists stranded in the South last week.</p>
<p>Salt producers in Kansas and elsewhere said they were out of rock salt or close to it.</p>
<p>Officials in New York and New Jersey also warned they were running short of the rock salt.</p>
<p>New York City has spread some 346,000 tons of rock salt on its roads so far this year, about the total for all of last winter, Belinda Mager, a spokeswoman for the city Department of Sanitation said.</p>
<p>The rapidly shrinking supply of salt has sent prices skyrocketing as officials stretch resources thin and scramble to find alternatives — like the processed sugar beet molasses being tested in Pennsylvania's Butler County.</p>
<p>Store owners, too, are getting squeezed.</p>
<p>"I have people calling from all parts of the East Coast looking for it, and we just have nothing."</p>
<p>"We're just continuing to get crushed by these storms. With major rock salt shortages, it's starting to get scary out there," Anthony Scorzetti, a hardware and paint manager for Braen Supply in Wanaque, New Jersey, told Reuters.</p>
<p>"I have people calling from all parts of the East Coast looking for it, and we just have nothing."</p>
<p>Some 77 million Americans were under storm warnings and hundreds of thousands were without power Wednesday as the winter blast that wreaked havoc across the nation’s midsection roared into the Northeast.</p>
<p>“The worst will be along the higher terrain, around central New England,” said Benjamin Sipprell, a National Weather Service meteorologist. “Southern parts of Vermont and New Hampshire around the border with Massachusetts could see up to around a foot of snow.”</p>
<p>The onslaught of ice dragged down power lines. More than 849,000 people were without power in eastern and central Pennsylvania at one point, prompting the governor to declare an emergency. Crews managed to cut that down to 625,000 by Wednesday night.</p>
<p>In New Jersey, where Gov. Chris Christie ordered a state of emergency, the state's largest utility PSE&amp;G reported about 9,000 customers without power Wednesday night, down from about 75,000 outages.</p>
<p>Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy called on residents to stay off roads. Parts of the state have reported 10 inches or more of snow.</p>
<p>“With heavy snow falling across the state and a mix of sleet and freezing rain on the way, I am asking residents to avoid unnecessary travel,” Malloy said. “If you can stay home or work from home, please do.”</p>
<p>In Connecticut, more than 300 traffic accidents were reported on major roadways and side streets on Wednesday.</p>
<p>“Everyone was skidding all over the place," Bruce Small, 58, an aircraft mechanic from Millford told Reuters.</p>
<p>More than 2,500 flights across the country were canceled, with airports and passengers in New York, Boston and Chicago bearing the brunt. Most of the flights not scrubbed were experiencing delays.</p>
<p>Commuters across the region creeped to work. Making matters worse, a “significant” power outage crippled service on at least three major subways lines in New York City during the early morning commute — including at Times Square, the busiest station in the busiest subway system in the country. By the end of the morning rush, the issue had been fixed, city officials said.</p>
<p>Schools were open in the Big Apple, despite the monstrous weather. In Brooklyn, parents trudged through the snow with their kids as crews used snowblowers to keep sidewalks around buildings clear.</p>
<p>Renita Stefanec, who dropped off her 7-year-old for class with her 5-year-old in tow, told Reuters that keeping schools open amid the storm is for the best.</p>
<p>“I prefer them to come to school because if they don’t they take it away from vacation days,” she told the wire service.</p>
<p>As for the arduous trek, Stefanec weighed the pros and cons.</p>
<p>“It’s sloppy, it’s messy, but if you live close it’s doable,” she said. “If it’s too bad out, they just don’t come. They keep the kids home. But if you’re close, it’s doable.”</p>
<p>The storm packed a powerful punch as it barreled east overnight. In Kentucky, more than 21,000 people were in the dark Wednesday morning; in Arkansas, the outage total was close to 40,000.</p>
<p>In Missouri, many people were forced to stay overnight at work or in hotels as road conditions quickly deteriorated, NBC affiliate <a href="http://www.wgem.com/story/24635146/2014/02/04/many-employees-forced-to-find-overnight-accommodations-due-to-snow" type="external">WGEM</a>reported. Kansas was hardest hit, and Gov. Sam Brownback declared a state of “disaster emergency” after the storm system forced the closure of many state offices and schools. In Wichita, 8.7 inches had fallen by 9 p.m. – shattering a record for the date to 1897.</p>
<p>Caught up in the treacherous conditions, at least two people died in a car accident and the Kansas National Guard deployed soldiers and Humvees to transport emergency and medical workers and assist stranded motorists.</p>
<p>And even as they faced another round of wicked weather Wednesday, many people on the East Coast were still feeling the aftershocks of Monday’s dump of snow and ice.</p>
<p>A 73-year-old New York man was struck and killed Monday by a snowplow that was backing up on a Brooklyn street, <a href="http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Man-Hit-Backhoe-Snowplow-Oceana-Drive-Brooklyn-Brighton-Beach-243376021.html" type="external">police told NBC New York</a>.</p>
<p>A 10-year-old girl also was recovering at home Tuesday after she was impaled in the back Monday by a metal rod while sledding in Jarrettsville, Md., north of Baltimore, <a href="http://www.wbaltv.com/news/maryland/harford-county/rescuers-try-to-help-child-impaled-with-rebar-while-sledding/-/10635956/24260134/-/116v9bvz/-/index.html" type="external">NBC station WBAL reported</a>.</p>
<p>There is better news: A third winter storm predicted for this weekend will likely not be as bad as first thought, according to Roth.</p>
<p>“We’re not saying that there will be no threat, but we are becoming more confident that it won’t be as big a deal,” he said. “There will be more snow for the Northeast on Saturady and Sunday but at this point it does not look very significant.”</p>
<p>Henry Austin of NBC News and Reuters contributed to this report.</p>
<p />
| false | 3 |
traffic snarls scrubbed flights power outages werent enough misery latest bit winter savagery hit midwest east extreme shortage salt used clear snow ice roadways many cities forced ration salt weeks aboveaverage snowfall bonechilling temperatures nearly depleted stockpiles thats left many streets treacherously slippery putting motorists passengers pedestrians risk end january instance pennsylvania transportation department burned 686000 tons salt upwards 200000 tons used average year according associated press illinois chicagos supply holding suburbs hurting dont get salt point people going sliding place like saw atlanta julius hansen public works director chicago suburb glen ellyn told ap referencing motorists stranded south last week salt producers kansas elsewhere said rock salt close officials new york new jersey also warned running short rock salt new york city spread 346000 tons rock salt roads far year total last winter belinda mager spokeswoman city department sanitation said rapidly shrinking supply salt sent prices skyrocketing officials stretch resources thin scramble find alternatives like processed sugar beet molasses tested pennsylvanias butler county store owners getting squeezed people calling parts east coast looking nothing continuing get crushed storms major rock salt shortages starting get scary anthony scorzetti hardware paint manager braen supply wanaque new jersey told reuters people calling parts east coast looking nothing 77 million americans storm warnings hundreds thousands without power wednesday winter blast wreaked havoc across nations midsection roared northeast worst along higher terrain around central new england said benjamin sipprell national weather service meteorologist southern parts vermont new hampshire around border massachusetts could see around foot snow onslaught ice dragged power lines 849000 people without power eastern central pennsylvania one point prompting governor declare emergency crews managed cut 625000 wednesday night new jersey gov chris christie ordered state emergency states largest utility pseampg reported 9000 customers without power wednesday night 75000 outages connecticut gov dannel malloy called residents stay roads parts state reported 10 inches snow heavy snow falling across state mix sleet freezing rain way asking residents avoid unnecessary travel malloy said stay home work home please connecticut 300 traffic accidents reported major roadways side streets wednesday everyone skidding place bruce small 58 aircraft mechanic millford told reuters 2500 flights across country canceled airports passengers new york boston chicago bearing brunt flights scrubbed experiencing delays commuters across region creeped work making matters worse significant power outage crippled service least three major subways lines new york city early morning commute including times square busiest station busiest subway system country end morning rush issue fixed city officials said schools open big apple despite monstrous weather brooklyn parents trudged snow kids crews used snowblowers keep sidewalks around buildings clear renita stefanec dropped 7yearold class 5yearold tow told reuters keeping schools open amid storm best prefer come school dont take away vacation days told wire service arduous trek stefanec weighed pros cons sloppy messy live close doable said bad dont come keep kids home youre close doable storm packed powerful punch barreled east overnight kentucky 21000 people dark wednesday morning arkansas outage total close 40000 missouri many people forced stay overnight work hotels road conditions quickly deteriorated nbc affiliate wgemreported kansas hardest hit gov sam brownback declared state disaster emergency storm system forced closure many state offices schools wichita 87 inches fallen 9 pm shattering record date 1897 caught treacherous conditions least two people died car accident kansas national guard deployed soldiers humvees transport emergency medical workers assist stranded motorists even faced another round wicked weather wednesday many people east coast still feeling aftershocks mondays dump snow ice 73yearold new york man struck killed monday snowplow backing brooklyn street police told nbc new york 10yearold girl also recovering home tuesday impaled back monday metal rod sledding jarrettsville md north baltimore nbc station wbal reported better news third winter storm predicted weekend likely bad first thought according roth saying threat becoming confident wont big deal said snow northeast saturady sunday point look significant henry austin nbc news reuters contributed report
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<p>NEW DELHI — Shruti Kharbanda wanted to be a doctor for as long as she could remember. But after graduating from high school two years ago in New Delhi and winning admission to medical school (in India, medical education begins after high school), she decided to become an engineer instead.</p>
<p>"Initially I didn't really like it, because I was interested in biology," Kharbanda said. "But I thought career-wise it is a better option."</p>
<p>Kharbanda's parents, both doctors, were the ones who discouraged her from entering medicine, noting that she would need to spend years pursuing an advanced degree with little reward to show for her hard work. "Compared to that, getting a bachelor's degree in engineering is the end of the struggle," she said.</p>
<p>The main problem is that in India, a basic medical degree without a specialization is of no use and there are so few graduate specialization seats that competition is fierce. In addition, the problem is likely to get worse before it gets better: Professors in India are leaving medical schools for better-paying jobs in private hospitals and in the pharmaceutical industry, forcing the schools to cut the size of their programs. And students who would have studied medicine a generation ago are pursuing more lucrative careers in the technical sector.</p>
<p>It is no wonder, then, that for every 10,000 people in India there are only six doctors, compared with nearly 55 in the United States and nearly 21 in Canada. Regulatory hurdles to the establishment of private medical schools have limited the opportunities to train for careers in medicine, prompting would-be doctors to go abroad, despite a boom in private health care.</p>
<p>So, like Kharbanda has done, many students are opting out of the field entirely. "It is a materialistic world, and the child can see that the remuneration a doctor gets is nowhere close to what an engineer gets. And a doctor has to struggle for more than 10 years," said Satish Kumar Suri, founder of New Delhi's Sahil Study Circle, a coaching center for students taking India's highly competitive medical and engineering entrance examinations.</p>
<p>Since thousands of students with a bachelor's degree in medicine may be competing for a single slot in graduate school, some retake the entrance exams for several years. That means an education that is supposed to take about 11 years often takes much longer. Once in graduate school, students become residents at overburdened government hospitals, where salaries are only a third of entry-level pay for a top engineering graduate.</p>
<p>A senior resident at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences — the top medical school in India, and perhaps all of Asia — earns just $7,200 a year. By comparison, the average salary offered last year to graduates of the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad was $49,000.</p>
<p>"Society has changed," said Dr. Kumar Harsh, who recently graduated from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. "Earlier, when I was a kid, a doctor was treated like a god. Nowadays the person who has maximum money has power and acceptance. Sometimes I regret getting into this line."</p>
<p>Many high school graduates are doing the math and, like Kharbanda, opting for engineering or technological fields.</p>
<p>Last year, 160,000 applicants took the medical school entrance exam, 25 percent fewer than the year before. By comparison, the number of applicants for entrance into the elite Indian Institutes of Technology rose by 28 percent last year, to 320,000.</p>
<p>Many Indians still want to become doctors, but they choose to do so abroad, where it is often easier to gain admission into specialized programs, and where salaries are higher. As many as 60,000 Indian physicians are estimated to be working in the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia. A report published last year by the Planning Commission of India says the country ranks at the top among nations whose physicians are working in the major developed countries.</p>
<p>Devi Shetty, a philanthropist and founder of Bangalore's Narayana Hrudayalaya, said he is deeply worried about the lack of seats available for students who want to become heart surgeons or other kinds of specialists. As many as 1,000 applicants could compete for one seat, he said.</p>
<p>"In India only 80 doctors can become cardiologists" in a given year, while "in the U.S. there are 800 positions to train cardiologists." As for kidney specialists, the United States has more nephrologists of Indian origin than India has, Dr. Shetty said, noting that "India has only 60 seats for nephrology."</p>
<p>The worst may be yet to come. Because so many professors are quitting for better-paying jobs in the private sector, some Indian states will soon reduce the number of graduate seats they offer&#160;— already far below the numbers required — in medical schools.</p>
<p>The Indian government knows that major reforms are called for. The national health ministry is considering modifications of some of the regulations to make it easier to establish private medical colleges in India. The government is also trying to expand the capacity of public medical schools and planning to set up new medical schools.</p>
<p>Medical professionals, however, say those plans are too little, too late.</p>
<p>Shailesh Mohite, a Mumbai medical professor, fears that the situation is going to spiral out of control. "Good government hospitals will become like primary health-care centers," he said, providing only the most basic care. "We are sitting on a bomb."</p>
<p>More GlobalPost dispatches about India:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/india/090516/congress-wins-big" type="external">India's Congress Party wins big</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/india/090514/meet-indias-pulp-fiction-master" type="external">Meet India's pulp fiction master</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/india/090430/indias-first-porn-star" type="external">Meet India's first porn star</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/india/090430/indias-first-porn-star" type="external">&#160;</a></p>
<p />
<p><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;source=embed&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q=India&amp;sll=-14.235004,-51.92528&amp;sspn=68.097563,92.548828&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;t=h&amp;ll=20.632784,78.925781&amp;spn=28.531064,50.976563&amp;z=4" type="external">View Larger Map</a></p>
| false | 3 |
new delhi shruti kharbanda wanted doctor long could remember graduating high school two years ago new delhi winning admission medical school india medical education begins high school decided become engineer instead initially didnt really like interested biology kharbanda said thought careerwise better option kharbandas parents doctors ones discouraged entering medicine noting would need spend years pursuing advanced degree little reward show hard work compared getting bachelors degree engineering end struggle said main problem india basic medical degree without specialization use graduate specialization seats competition fierce addition problem likely get worse gets better professors india leaving medical schools betterpaying jobs private hospitals pharmaceutical industry forcing schools cut size programs students would studied medicine generation ago pursuing lucrative careers technical sector wonder every 10000 people india six doctors compared nearly 55 united states nearly 21 canada regulatory hurdles establishment private medical schools limited opportunities train careers medicine prompting wouldbe doctors go abroad despite boom private health care like kharbanda done many students opting field entirely materialistic world child see remuneration doctor gets nowhere close engineer gets doctor struggle 10 years said satish kumar suri founder new delhis sahil study circle coaching center students taking indias highly competitive medical engineering entrance examinations since thousands students bachelors degree medicine may competing single slot graduate school retake entrance exams several years means education supposed take 11 years often takes much longer graduate school students become residents overburdened government hospitals salaries third entrylevel pay top engineering graduate senior resident india institute medical sciences top medical school india perhaps asia earns 7200 year comparison average salary offered last year graduates indian institute management ahmedabad 49000 society changed said dr kumar harsh recently graduated india institute medical sciences earlier kid doctor treated like god nowadays person maximum money power acceptance sometimes regret getting line many high school graduates math like kharbanda opting engineering technological fields last year 160000 applicants took medical school entrance exam 25 percent fewer year comparison number applicants entrance elite indian institutes technology rose 28 percent last year 320000 many indians still want become doctors choose abroad often easier gain admission specialized programs salaries higher many 60000 indian physicians estimated working united states britain canada australia report published last year planning commission india says country ranks top among nations whose physicians working major developed countries devi shetty philanthropist founder bangalores narayana hrudayalaya said deeply worried lack seats available students want become heart surgeons kinds specialists many 1000 applicants could compete one seat said india 80 doctors become cardiologists given year us 800 positions train cardiologists kidney specialists united states nephrologists indian origin india dr shetty said noting india 60 seats nephrology worst may yet come many professors quitting betterpaying jobs private sector indian states soon reduce number graduate seats offer160 already far numbers required medical schools indian government knows major reforms called national health ministry considering modifications regulations make easier establish private medical colleges india government also trying expand capacity public medical schools planning set new medical schools medical professionals however say plans little late shailesh mohite mumbai medical professor fears situation going spiral control good government hospitals become like primary healthcare centers said providing basic care sitting bomb globalpost dispatches india indias congress party wins big meet indias pulp fiction master meet indias first porn star 160 view larger map
| 546 |
<p>It’s the end of day three of the new school year at Clemente High School in West Town. Hundreds of smiling, chattering teenagers, all in plain white T-shirts and dark pants or skirts, swarm to the down escalators in their nine-story school. On the first floor, Acting Principal Eduardo Negron and a host of career service staff form a line from the foot of the escalator, out the exit doors and along the sidewalk to Division Streetwaiting to send the advancing throng on its way.</p>
<p>The sidewalk to Division had been a trouble spot, Negron explains. Outsiders used to wait there at the end of the day to eye the massive, slow-moving crowd. On occasion, they would trail students out to Division and beat them up. “So we got all the career service people to come out here, clear the area, and keep the kids moving when they come out,” he says, adding, “The only way a kid is going to come here is if they feel safe.”</p>
<p>A young man not wearing the school’s new uniform sticks out like a sore thumb as he tries to buck the flow in the exit pathway. Two male staff members walk him back to Division Street without incident. Meanwhile, Negron shakes hands with departing students, pausing for brief conversations with some.</p>
<p>When the School Reform Board ordered every local school council to consider adopting uniforms, Clemente’s LSC quickly said “yes.” Its members genuinely like the idea, which has broad support in the community, but they also are anxious to please an administration that put their school on both academic remediation and financial supervision and was expected to put it on academic probation as well.</p>
<p>Ironically, that very administration has adopted a number of the programs that Clemente initiated under school reform, some of which, thanks to a front-page article in the Chicago Sun-Times, “Public School’s ‘Pathetic’ Use of Poverty Funds,” made Clemente synonymous with scandal. For example:</p>
<p>Employing parents. In 1994, Clemente began hiring dozens of parents as tutors, hall monitors and office help. Now the administration of Chief Executive Office Paul Vallas is developing programs to hire parents as custodians, attendance aides and parent trainers and mentors, while guarding against what Vallas calls “local patronage.” (The Sun-Times had called Clemente a “hiring hall.”)</p>
<p>Schools within schools. In 1991, Clemente adopted a “house” system that gives each class a home base on one floor and a set of counselors, administrators and teachers that stays with it until graduation. Now the central administration is readying a high school restructuring plan that will do much the same.</p>
<p>Alternative schools. In 1993, Clemente created a satellite program for at-risk students in cooperation with two non-profit educational organizations. Clemente was forced to abandon the satellites in 1995 after central office raised questions about liability. This year, the new Reform Board is spending $12 million on alternative schools for dropouts and disruptive students; most of the money is going to outside non-profits.</p>
<p>“We still haven’t got an answer” on the question of insurance while students are taught at an off-campus site, says Assistant Principal Enrique Romero, who taught at a satellite. “I don’t know if they’re arguing, researching, stalling obviously I think all three.”</p>
<p>In January, the board awarded an alternative school contract to Pedro Albizu Campos Alternative High School, housed at the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, which was one of Clemente’s satellite sites.</p>
<p>Besides the satellites, Clemente has dropped two other programs that got it in trouble: sending groups of students to Puerto Rico and Mexico, and a legal clinic that offered workshops on immigration and parents’ rights in the educational system, as well as information and referrals for parents and students with legal problems. School Board auditors considered these activities an inappropriate use of state Chapter 1 funds, though the law gives schools wide discretion to spend the money for “educationally beneficial expenditures.”</p>
<p>Of the surviving programs, employing parents has been the most successful.</p>
<p>“I looked at [the program] with great skepticism in the beginning, and it turned out to be great,” says Patricia Boland, an English teacher and Chicago Teachers Union delegate. “I can’t say enough good things about our parents. They’re getting next to nothing, 20 bucks a day. Their mere presence is wonderful. If you need to send a kid to the office, there’s somebody there [to escort him].”</p>
<p>“Sometimes parents know other parents, and if they’re working here, they may tell your parent and you’ll get in trouble,” observes sophomore Israel Miranda, whose mother and stepfather both work at the school.</p>
<p>$100,000 for parents</p>
<p>This year, the school has budgeted $100,000 in state Chapter 1 funds to hire 64 parents. And Clemente’s remediation partner, the DePaul University Center for Urban Education, includes them in its work.</p>
<p>Clemente’s “house” system also is still in place, though building and scheduling constraints have prevented it from becoming a full-fledged system of minischools. The system was recommended by Luis Nieves Falcon, a consultant whose pay figured prominently in the Sun-Times article. Falcon and his wife, Aurea Rodriguez, received $218,000 over two years.</p>
<p>Under the system, each entering class is assigned an assistant principal, dean and counselors who follow their progress over four years. Division (homeroom) teachers also keep their students for four years, and some subject teachers keep the same students for at least two years. “We make sure that they are held accountable,” says Romero. “We don’t leave it up to hope that they make it.”</p>
<p>Students are feeling the effects. A one-time dropout who is now a senior reports that he returned to Clemente because his former dean kept after him. The student, who asked not to be identified, says that Carmen Rodriguez, now an assistant principal, would see him on the street and ask: “What’s going on?”</p>
<p>“I’ve got gang troubles,” he respondedthe student said he dropped out because of in-school fights.</p>
<p>“We’ll help you,” she said.</p>
<p>“I gave [returning] a try, and everything was a lot calmer,” he says. Now, this student and fellow seniors tell underclassmen, “We don’t need to be fighting here.”</p>
<p>His account echoes what students told Catalyst two years ago about the increased discipline that followed the arrival of parent employees. (See Catalyst, November 1994.)</p>
<p>Although the house system has only improved with time, the same cannot be said for another of Falcon’s major recommendations, creation of a multicultural curriculum that explores the roots and culture of students at the school. Most Clemente students are Puerto Rican, but African-Americans and students of Mexican and Vietnamese heritage also are enrolled.</p>
<p>In 1992, a group of Clemente teachers wrote a new curriculum under the guidance of consultant Aurea Rodriguez. It got mixed reviews from the faculty.</p>
<p>Karl Kuhn, a social studies teacher and member of the local school council, describes the process as “going beyond scores to look at how to better interest students. We took a look at our curriculumwe felt it was outdated. We geared [the new curriculum] to student interests, tried to globalize it.”</p>
<p>“History is not just Europe,” he says. “It’s the world.”</p>
<p>As a result, Kuhn’s classes now examine both Christopher Columbus’ explorations and pre-Columbian civilizations. They also look at U.S. history from the point of view of a variety of ethnic groups, not just one.</p>
<p>“They’re exposed to as many cultures as we can bring in,” he says. “I think the teachers feel really confident about this whole thing.”</p>
<p>Other teachers disagree. “Parts of it were excellent, other parts were poor” says a teacher who requested anonymity. “Not everyone participated in writing it. My personal perception is that the curriculum was not well accepted by the majority of the teachers. They felt like it was forced upon them. It’s hard to find [now]a lot of people boycotted it.”</p>
<p>Another teacher, who also asked not to be identified, says the curriculum “was used sporadically by a few teachers. The first year, when we were all gung ho, there weren’t enough copies printed. Later, everything had changed, people had changed. Early retirement had a big impact. It’s like the death of the shamanthe one who knows the background is gone. You can have the guide in your hands, but you won’t know why it was important.”</p>
<p>‘Buy-in’ a challenge</p>
<p>So far, the curriculum initiative that came with remediation is suffering from the same problems: Not all the teachers have bought into it, and it’s unclear how much support they are getting to change.</p>
<p>Last year, the Office of Accountability spent $61,750 to bring in Barbara Radner, director of the Center for Urban Education at DePaul University, to help the school improve. (This year, the school will pick up half of an $80,000 tab for the center’s services.)</p>
<p>Radner describes her role as “facilitativeand expendable.” Her mission is to help teachers and departments simplify, clarify and organize their curriculum so that teachers across departments can communicate and stress common skills.</p>
<p>She calls traditional lesson plans “pieces of fiction” because they often do not correspond to what teachers teach. In their place, she has teachers prepare succinct charts, called calendars of learning. The calendars divide the year into five-week blocks and require teachers to chart when they will teach not only the course content but also skills across the curriculum (e.g. reading, writing, organizing). By going through this process, says Radner, teachers create “a functional curriculum as opposed to a hypothetical one.”</p>
<p>Radner says the calendars leave the “how” of teaching up to the teachers. “It’s simply a clarification of what they’re supposed to be doing,” she says. “It is not connected to method.”</p>
<p>Teacher Judith Gearon applauds the process, saying it helped teachers of U.S. history set priorities and eliminate less important material from their curriculum.</p>
<p>“I bought the DePaul idea,” says Axel Massol, a graphic arts teacher who is serving as a facilitator for the project. After planning his courses using the learning calendar, Massol worked with teachers in the music department to plan their first quarter. And an art teacher “borrowed my plans, and we shared the same vocabulary,” he says. Since then, their word bank, or list of key terms, has made the rounds of everyone who uses desktop publishing in their courses.</p>
<p>Yet other teachers are clearly skeptical. “You’ve got to enlist [teachers’] minds, not just their pens,” says one, who requested anonymity. The project’s success, this teacher adds, “all depends on how much support we’re going to get from the office”support ranging from easier access to copying machines to more time for staff development. (This year, Clemente has scheduled staff development meetings every other Thursday throughout the year.)</p>
<p>Radner knows the faculty must be sold on the curriculum project, and hopes to provide material support even copyingas well as training. “The implementation has been inconsistent but increasing,” she says. “Fifty-two teachers worked on these things. They have to communicate them to the rest of the faculty.”</p>
<p>With a teaching staff of about 115, that’s no easy task. “It takes half an hour just to stuff faculty mailboxes that’s why communication is so important,” she notes.</p>
<p>The first week of school, less than half of the classes Catalyst observed had learning calendars posted. And the school’s first staff development meeting, held Sept. 12, began with a reintroduction of a basic step, the use of outlines as planning tools. While Radner’s approach is similar in some ways to that of her own dean, Barbara Sizemore, Radner doesn’t make much of tests or test scores. “I’m not a test-score person,” she says. Even so, Phil Hansen, the Office of Accountability’s intervention chief, notes that scores at the elementary schools she has worked with have improved, especially in math.</p>
<p>Clemente’s IGAP scores improved last year, especially in math, where the percentage of students meeting or exceeding state goals rose from 18 percent to 30 percent. In reading, the percentage rose slightly, from 21 percent to 26 percent. However, scores on the nationally standardized Tests of Achievement and Proficiency (TAP) dropped slightly in both reading and math.</p>
<p>As it did with uniforms, Clemente’s local school council also embraced the Reform Board’s new homework policy. On the third day of the new school year, teachers in every class Catalyst observed both collected and distributed assignments. And the majority of students in these classes had done the work.</p>
<p>“My daughter had homework everyday,” says Luz Martinez, a parent mentor whom Catalyst interviewed the first week of school. Martinez adds that she told her own child, “I know. You can’t lie to me. They said on TV you’re going to have homework every day.” Clemente’s leadership also is using the new decree from central office to advance its own community-centered agenda. In August, the school unveiled Homework Net Sites, a program that aims to tie increased homework, community involvement and computer literacy into one package.</p>
<p>The program calls for local businesses, youth centers and other groups to set aside space where Clemente students can use the Internet to do homework. The goal is to increase computer literacy among students and community members and encourage teachers to assign challenging, research-based homework. So far, 12 agencies have signed on to the project and one, ASPIRA of Illinois, already has committed computers and tutors as part of its after-school program.</p>
<p>Community politics</p>
<p>At Clemente, efforts to change the school cannot be separated from the contentious politics of its community. Like many Chicago neighborhoods, West Town is a political cauldron: liberals vs. conservatives, machine politicians vs. independent politicians, gentrification vs. affordable housing. But in West Town, there’s a unique, highly emotional issue that weaves in and out of the other divisions: Puerto Rican independence.</p>
<p>Some of the staunchest supporters of independence (including Catalyst Editorial Board member José Elias López) have been heavily involved in Clemente, as have some of the community’s more liberal activists. And that has made Clemente a political target. Last March, for example, an anonymously published “scandal sheet” that regularly satirizes pro-independence leaders, among others, ran a spoof lampooning Negron, who was then an assistant principal and heir apparent to retiring Principal Lou Geraldi; the spoof painted Negron with the brush of the FALN, a pro-independence group with a history of violence. In the publication, “FALN” appears to be synonymous with “supports Puerto Rican independence”: U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez, for example, is termed “a known FALN infiltrator in the U.S. House of Representatives.”</p>
<p>The paper’s title, El Pito, translates literally as The Whistleblower but has bawdy connotations.</p>
<p>In April, a slate led by Gregory “Papo” Garcia, a parent with children in Von Humboldt Elementary, tried to take over the LSC but failed. Garcia then challenged the results, charging electioneering inside the polling place. But board lawyers found the charges groundless.</p>
<p>In July, shortly after Negron was named acting principal, unsigned flyers bearing the headline “FALN Open House at Clemente High School Come Meet Your Future Principal” were circulated in the community. The flyers urged residents to oppose Negron for full-time principal by calling the school, Paul Vallas and Mayor Richard M. Daley.</p>
<p>In late July, WBBM-TV (Channel 2) broadcast a story about the “smear campaign.” Asked by Catalyst for his reaction, Negron declined to comment, as he had to Channel 2.</p>
<p>Inside Clemente’s walls, Negron’s politics don’t seem to be a big issue. “I do not share Mr. Negron’s political opinions, but this school has been working much, much better since he took over,” says David Castro, a parent who works at the school. “I evaluate a person by his job, not by his political ideals.”</p>
<p>On Sept. 12, Vallas met with the Clemente LSC in an emergency meeting. A week after the meeting, Vallas said of the allegations, “That’s local politics. That doesn’t concern me.” The Department of Safety and Security investigated the issue and, according to Vallas, the allegations against Negron “could not be substantiated.”</p>
<p>Vallas, however, has repeatedly said he opposes Negron as principal because “he has no experience as principal.”</p>
<p>With pressure from many sides, the Clemente LSC appears to be taking a politically prudent tack. “We’re gonna look for a new principal,” says Antonio Beltran, a Mexican American who has been on the LSC since its inception. “Negron, he’s good, but the media has been too hard on him.”</p>
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end day three new school year clemente high school west town hundreds smiling chattering teenagers plain white tshirts dark pants skirts swarm escalators ninestory school first floor acting principal eduardo negron host career service staff form line foot escalator exit doors along sidewalk division streetwaiting send advancing throng way sidewalk division trouble spot negron explains outsiders used wait end day eye massive slowmoving crowd occasion would trail students division beat got career service people come clear area keep kids moving come says adding way kid going come feel safe young man wearing schools new uniform sticks like sore thumb tries buck flow exit pathway two male staff members walk back division street without incident meanwhile negron shakes hands departing students pausing brief conversations school reform board ordered every local school council consider adopting uniforms clementes lsc quickly said yes members genuinely like idea broad support community also anxious please administration put school academic remediation financial supervision expected put academic probation well ironically administration adopted number programs clemente initiated school reform thanks frontpage article chicago suntimes public schools pathetic use poverty funds made clemente synonymous scandal example employing parents 1994 clemente began hiring dozens parents tutors hall monitors office help administration chief executive office paul vallas developing programs hire parents custodians attendance aides parent trainers mentors guarding vallas calls local patronage suntimes called clemente hiring hall schools within schools 1991 clemente adopted house system gives class home base one floor set counselors administrators teachers stays graduation central administration readying high school restructuring plan much alternative schools 1993 clemente created satellite program atrisk students cooperation two nonprofit educational organizations clemente forced abandon satellites 1995 central office raised questions liability year new reform board spending 12 million alternative schools dropouts disruptive students money going outside nonprofits still havent got answer question insurance students taught offcampus site says assistant principal enrique romero taught satellite dont know theyre arguing researching stalling obviously think three january board awarded alternative school contract pedro albizu campos alternative high school housed puerto rican cultural center one clementes satellite sites besides satellites clemente dropped two programs got trouble sending groups students puerto rico mexico legal clinic offered workshops immigration parents rights educational system well information referrals parents students legal problems school board auditors considered activities inappropriate use state chapter 1 funds though law gives schools wide discretion spend money educationally beneficial expenditures surviving programs employing parents successful looked program great skepticism beginning turned great says patricia boland english teacher chicago teachers union delegate cant say enough good things parents theyre getting next nothing 20 bucks day mere presence wonderful need send kid office theres somebody escort sometimes parents know parents theyre working may tell parent youll get trouble observes sophomore israel miranda whose mother stepfather work school 100000 parents year school budgeted 100000 state chapter 1 funds hire 64 parents clementes remediation partner depaul university center urban education includes work clementes house system also still place though building scheduling constraints prevented becoming fullfledged system minischools system recommended luis nieves falcon consultant whose pay figured prominently suntimes article falcon wife aurea rodriguez received 218000 two years system entering class assigned assistant principal dean counselors follow progress four years division homeroom teachers also keep students four years subject teachers keep students least two years make sure held accountable says romero dont leave hope make students feeling effects onetime dropout senior reports returned clemente former dean kept student asked identified says carmen rodriguez assistant principal would see street ask whats going ive got gang troubles respondedthe student said dropped inschool fights well help said gave returning try everything lot calmer says student fellow seniors tell underclassmen dont need fighting account echoes students told catalyst two years ago increased discipline followed arrival parent employees see catalyst november 1994 although house system improved time said another falcons major recommendations creation multicultural curriculum explores roots culture students school clemente students puerto rican africanamericans students mexican vietnamese heritage also enrolled 1992 group clemente teachers wrote new curriculum guidance consultant aurea rodriguez got mixed reviews faculty karl kuhn social studies teacher member local school council describes process going beyond scores look better interest students took look curriculumwe felt outdated geared new curriculum student interests tried globalize history europe says world result kuhns classes examine christopher columbus explorations precolumbian civilizations also look us history point view variety ethnic groups one theyre exposed many cultures bring says think teachers feel really confident whole thing teachers disagree parts excellent parts poor says teacher requested anonymity everyone participated writing personal perception curriculum well accepted majority teachers felt like forced upon hard find nowa lot people boycotted another teacher also asked identified says curriculum used sporadically teachers first year gung ho werent enough copies printed later everything changed people changed early retirement big impact like death shamanthe one knows background gone guide hands wont know important buyin challenge far curriculum initiative came remediation suffering problems teachers bought unclear much support getting change last year office accountability spent 61750 bring barbara radner director center urban education depaul university help school improve year school pick half 80000 tab centers services radner describes role facilitativeand expendable mission help teachers departments simplify clarify organize curriculum teachers across departments communicate stress common skills calls traditional lesson plans pieces fiction often correspond teachers teach place teachers prepare succinct charts called calendars learning calendars divide year fiveweek blocks require teachers chart teach course content also skills across curriculum eg reading writing organizing going process says radner teachers create functional curriculum opposed hypothetical one radner says calendars leave teaching teachers simply clarification theyre supposed says connected method teacher judith gearon applauds process saying helped teachers us history set priorities eliminate less important material curriculum bought depaul idea says axel massol graphic arts teacher serving facilitator project planning courses using learning calendar massol worked teachers music department plan first quarter art teacher borrowed plans shared vocabulary says since word bank list key terms made rounds everyone uses desktop publishing courses yet teachers clearly skeptical youve got enlist teachers minds pens says one requested anonymity projects success teacher adds depends much support going get officesupport ranging easier access copying machines time staff development year clemente scheduled staff development meetings every thursday throughout year radner knows faculty must sold curriculum project hopes provide material support even copyingas well training implementation inconsistent increasing says fiftytwo teachers worked things communicate rest faculty teaching staff 115 thats easy task takes half hour stuff faculty mailboxes thats communication important notes first week school less half classes catalyst observed learning calendars posted schools first staff development meeting held sept 12 began reintroduction basic step use outlines planning tools radners approach similar ways dean barbara sizemore radner doesnt make much tests test scores im testscore person says even phil hansen office accountabilitys intervention chief notes scores elementary schools worked improved especially math clementes igap scores improved last year especially math percentage students meeting exceeding state goals rose 18 percent 30 percent reading percentage rose slightly 21 percent 26 percent however scores nationally standardized tests achievement proficiency tap dropped slightly reading math uniforms clementes local school council also embraced reform boards new homework policy third day new school year teachers every class catalyst observed collected distributed assignments majority students classes done work daughter homework everyday says luz martinez parent mentor catalyst interviewed first week school martinez adds told child know cant lie said tv youre going homework every day clementes leadership also using new decree central office advance communitycentered agenda august school unveiled homework net sites program aims tie increased homework community involvement computer literacy one package program calls local businesses youth centers groups set aside space clemente students use internet homework goal increase computer literacy among students community members encourage teachers assign challenging researchbased homework far 12 agencies signed project one aspira illinois already committed computers tutors part afterschool program community politics clemente efforts change school separated contentious politics community like many chicago neighborhoods west town political cauldron liberals vs conservatives machine politicians vs independent politicians gentrification vs affordable housing west town theres unique highly emotional issue weaves divisions puerto rican independence staunchest supporters independence including catalyst editorial board member josé elias lópez heavily involved clemente communitys liberal activists made clemente political target last march example anonymously published scandal sheet regularly satirizes proindependence leaders among others ran spoof lampooning negron assistant principal heir apparent retiring principal lou geraldi spoof painted negron brush faln proindependence group history violence publication faln appears synonymous supports puerto rican independence us rep luis gutierrez example termed known faln infiltrator us house representatives papers title el pito translates literally whistleblower bawdy connotations april slate led gregory papo garcia parent children von humboldt elementary tried take lsc failed garcia challenged results charging electioneering inside polling place board lawyers found charges groundless july shortly negron named acting principal unsigned flyers bearing headline faln open house clemente high school come meet future principal circulated community flyers urged residents oppose negron fulltime principal calling school paul vallas mayor richard daley late july wbbmtv channel 2 broadcast story smear campaign asked catalyst reaction negron declined comment channel 2 inside clementes walls negrons politics dont seem big issue share mr negrons political opinions school working much much better since took says david castro parent works school evaluate person job political ideals sept 12 vallas met clemente lsc emergency meeting week meeting vallas said allegations thats local politics doesnt concern department safety security investigated issue according vallas allegations negron could substantiated vallas however repeatedly said opposes negron principal experience principal pressure many sides clemente lsc appears taking politically prudent tack gon na look new principal says antonio beltran mexican american lsc since inception negron hes good media hard
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<p>Update: News Corp will <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/07/idUSnL6E7I71Y20110707" type="external">cease publication of News of the World</a> after Sunday's issue.</p>
<p>LONDON, United Kingdom - The ending of the classic film "All the President's Men" shows a teletype machine hammering out headlines as one by one the men who tried to cover-up Watergate resign and go to prison. The dam has burst and the truth is flowing.</p>
<p>It felt like that yesterday in Britain as the phone-hacking scandal at the Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid, News of the World, <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/united-kingdom/110706/families-war-dead-hacked-tabloid" type="external">burst open</a>. But rather than a dam, this is like a burst boil - sliming everyone who is close to the situation including British Prime Minister David Cameron and Murdoch.</p>
<p>The day started with the revelation that following the terrorist bombings of July 7, 2005, the News of the World hacked the mobile phone messages of families of some of the 52 people killed that day. By mid-morning, the paper's major advertisers - Ford and Mitsubishi cars, Mumsnet and Lloyd's Bank - suspended their ad campaigns. Their action followed a Twitter campaign urging businesses not to buy ads in the paper. In mid-afternoon Parliament debated the issue for three hours. The day ended with $1.7 billion wiped off the value of News Corp's shares in New York.</p>
<p>Something decisive had changed in the public's view of the story. The <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/united-kingdom/110128/rupert-murdoch-news-of-the-world-bskyb" type="external">phone hacking scandal</a> was first revealed in 2009 and has occasionally flamed back into life, but as a story that primarily interested those at the intersection of politics and the media in London. The story was about celebrities and politicians, just the kind of folks that people who buy the News of the World - Britain's best selling Sunday newspaper - want to read about. There was a great shrug of the shoulders. But hacking into the phones of grieving parents of terrorist victims is scandal of a different order of magnitude. Add to that the revelations in the last week that the paper's operatives also hacked a child murder victim's phone and you have the makings of a corporate crisis for News Corp, Murdoch's globe-girdling empire.</p>
<p>It also deepens the crisis for Cameron, whose former media chief, <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/united-kingdom/100909/rupert-murdoch-news-new-york-times-british-scandal-celebrities" type="external">Andy Coulson</a>, resigned last September over his role in the unfolding scandal. The chief executive of News International - the British arm of News Corp - is Rebekah Brooks, editor of the News of the World when the practice of phone hacking began to grow. Brooks is the prime minister's neighbor in Oxfordshire. The two have been close friends for many years. Members of his own party have been calling for Brooks to resign. Cameron is in the middle here and it is an uncomfortable position to be in.</p>
<p><a href="http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/peteroborne/100095686/david-cameron-is-in-the-sewer-because-of-his-news-international-friends/" type="external">Peter Oborne</a> is a columnist for the right-wing Daily Telegraph, aka the Daily Torygraph. His voice is the voice of the Conservative grassroots. In a column headlined "David Cameron Is In the Sewer Because of His News International Friends," Oborne wrote, "In the careers of all prime ministers there comes a turning point. He or she makes a fatal mistake from which there is no ultimate recovery. With Tony Blair it was the Iraq war and the failure to find weapons of mass destruction ... . David Cameron ... now faces exactly such a crisis. The series of disgusting revelations concerning his friends and associates from Rupert Murdoch's News International has permanently and irrevocably damaged his reputation."</p>
<p>Calls have come from every point of the political compass for Cameron's good friend Brooks to resign. Speaking in an emergency debate on the scandal yesterday, Labour MP Tom Watson said, "In the world of Rebekah Brooks, no one can grieve in private, no one can cry their tears without surveillance, no one can talk to their friends without their private feelings becoming public property."</p>
<p>It is extraordinary that so much has been put on the line for an activity - phone hacking - that in reality is nothing more than a "fishing expedition and a short cut," according to Roy Greenslade, professor of journalism at City University of London and former senior editor for the News of the World's sister paper The Sun as well as the Murdoch-owned Sunday Times. "The only reason they would be hacking 7/7 victims' phones is that you might hear something amazing, some amazing expression of grief. They cast their net very wide. There's just that possibility you might generate a human interest story."</p>
<p>"Going on the knocker" as Greenslade calls ringing front door bells of families bereaved in a public tragedy is probably the worst part of being a reporter. Hacking saves you the trouble and provides words to fit in people's mouths. Tabloids sell in their millions not just on scandal but on heart-rending human interest stories. In pursuit of those stories questions of privacy and decency can be relegated to second place.</p>
<p>Beyond the moral questions this is also now a story about the succession at News Corp, the world's largest media company. James Murdoch, the youngest son of Murdoch's longest marriage, was in charge of News International during the period of extreme phone-hacking activities. He also put together a deal in which News Corp would buy outright ownership in BSkyB, Britain's largest satellite cable operation. Because of the size of News Corp's operations in Britain, competition issues were raised with regulators. Ultimately the Cameron government had the final say on whether to refer the deal to the Competition Commission. Last week, Cameron's cabinet secretary in charge of making the decision, Jeremy Hunt, said he would not be making the referral and would let the deal go ahead.</p>
<p>In the wake of the new revelations that deal is now in jeopardy. In the emergency debate yesterday, Labour MP Chris Bryant said, "We have let one man have far too great a sway over our national life. At least Berlusconi lives in Italy but Murdoch is not resident in this country and he does not pay tax here ... . No other country would allow one man to garner four national newspapers, the second largest broadcaster, a monopoly on sports rights and first view movies. America, the home of the aggressive entrepreneur, doesn't allow it. We shouldn't."</p>
<p>On the other side of the chamber, Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs nodded in agreement. Watson closed the debate with a pointed accusation against James Murdoch, saying "I believe Mr. James Murdoch should be suspended from office while the police now investigate what I believe is his personal authorization to pan a cover-up of this scandal." He added it was, "nothing short of an attempt to pervert the course of justice."</p>
<p>The problem is that the slime from this scandal is all over the Metropolitan Police as well. Yesterday, Sir Paul Stephenson, acknowledged that a number of police officers received money from the News of the World during the time phone hacking was rampant. This may or may not explain why an initial police investigation into the affair was afflicted by a "certain lethargy" in the words of the man who ordered the inquiry, Alan Johnson, Home Secretary in Gordon Brown's cabinet when the scandal broke in 2009.</p>
<p>Regardless of what the police do, the focus is now on James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks, if the BSkyB deal falls through - and its potential revenue stream is lost to News Corp's balance sheet - the fallout could be severe. Some News Corp shareholders are already complaining about what they see as <a href="http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/03/18/35046.htm" type="external">nepotism</a> at the top.</p>
<p>But the ultimate effect of the phone-hacking scandal on who succeeds Rupert Murdoch at News Corp is in the realm of speculation. In the realm of fact the scandal keeps unraveling. Today's revelation is that the mobile phones of soldiers killed in Afghanistan were hacked ... and there is more, much more to come.&#160;</p>
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update news corp cease publication news world sundays issue london united kingdom ending classic film presidents men shows teletype machine hammering headlines one one men tried coverup watergate resign go prison dam burst truth flowing felt like yesterday britain phonehacking scandal rupert murdochowned tabloid news world burst open rather dam like burst boil sliming everyone close situation including british prime minister david cameron murdoch day started revelation following terrorist bombings july 7 2005 news world hacked mobile phone messages families 52 people killed day midmorning papers major advertisers ford mitsubishi cars mumsnet lloyds bank suspended ad campaigns action followed twitter campaign urging businesses buy ads paper midafternoon parliament debated issue three hours day ended 17 billion wiped value news corps shares new york something decisive changed publics view story phone hacking scandal first revealed 2009 occasionally flamed back life story primarily interested intersection politics media london story celebrities politicians kind folks people buy news world britains best selling sunday newspaper want read great shrug shoulders hacking phones grieving parents terrorist victims scandal different order magnitude add revelations last week papers operatives also hacked child murder victims phone makings corporate crisis news corp murdochs globegirdling empire also deepens crisis cameron whose former media chief andy coulson resigned last september role unfolding scandal chief executive news international british arm news corp rebekah brooks editor news world practice phone hacking began grow brooks prime ministers neighbor oxfordshire two close friends many years members party calling brooks resign cameron middle uncomfortable position peter oborne columnist rightwing daily telegraph aka daily torygraph voice voice conservative grassroots column headlined david cameron sewer news international friends oborne wrote careers prime ministers comes turning point makes fatal mistake ultimate recovery tony blair iraq war failure find weapons mass destruction david cameron faces exactly crisis series disgusting revelations concerning friends associates rupert murdochs news international permanently irrevocably damaged reputation calls come every point political compass camerons good friend brooks resign speaking emergency debate scandal yesterday labour mp tom watson said world rebekah brooks one grieve private one cry tears without surveillance one talk friends without private feelings becoming public property extraordinary much put line activity phone hacking reality nothing fishing expedition short cut according roy greenslade professor journalism city university london former senior editor news worlds sister paper sun well murdochowned sunday times reason would hacking 77 victims phones might hear something amazing amazing expression grief cast net wide theres possibility might generate human interest story going knocker greenslade calls ringing front door bells families bereaved public tragedy probably worst part reporter hacking saves trouble provides words fit peoples mouths tabloids sell millions scandal heartrending human interest stories pursuit stories questions privacy decency relegated second place beyond moral questions also story succession news corp worlds largest media company james murdoch youngest son murdochs longest marriage charge news international period extreme phonehacking activities also put together deal news corp would buy outright ownership bskyb britains largest satellite cable operation size news corps operations britain competition issues raised regulators ultimately cameron government final say whether refer deal competition commission last week camerons cabinet secretary charge making decision jeremy hunt said would making referral would let deal go ahead wake new revelations deal jeopardy emergency debate yesterday labour mp chris bryant said let one man far great sway national life least berlusconi lives italy murdoch resident country pay tax country would allow one man garner four national newspapers second largest broadcaster monopoly sports rights first view movies america home aggressive entrepreneur doesnt allow shouldnt side chamber conservative liberal democrat mps nodded agreement watson closed debate pointed accusation james murdoch saying believe mr james murdoch suspended office police investigate believe personal authorization pan coverup scandal added nothing short attempt pervert course justice problem slime scandal metropolitan police well yesterday sir paul stephenson acknowledged number police officers received money news world time phone hacking rampant may may explain initial police investigation affair afflicted certain lethargy words man ordered inquiry alan johnson home secretary gordon browns cabinet scandal broke 2009 regardless police focus james murdoch rebekah brooks bskyb deal falls potential revenue stream lost news corps balance sheet fallout could severe news corp shareholders already complaining see nepotism top ultimate effect phonehacking scandal succeeds rupert murdoch news corp realm speculation realm fact scandal keeps unraveling todays revelation mobile phones soldiers killed afghanistan hacked much come160
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<p>By Jeff Brumley</p>
<p><a href="http://www.northminsterbaptist.org/index.php" type="external">Northminster Baptist Church</a> in Jackson, Miss., embraced the “missional” concept before missional was cool —&#160;or even a word.</p>
<p>Its leaders say the lay-led congregation was founded in the late 1960s with a culture inclined to look outside its four walls. That orientation, ministers say, inspired an on-going inner-city outreach that continues to profoundly transform church and community members alike.</p>
<p>And the way pastors and members describe the founding and operation of Wider Net sounds like something right out of a missional churches handbook.</p>
<p>“As a church, all of us simply got in on what God was up to,” said Jill Barnes Buckley, the associate pastor for community ministry at the church. “It’s about the church stopping to look and listen for the move of the Holy Spirit.”</p>
<p>Warm and welcoming</p>
<p>Kristopher Shields was 16 when he felt that move of the spirit. First, it came when he learned of strangers operating out of a renovated house-turned-community center in the Mid-City/Georgetown area where he lives. He heard they had an after-school program, including tutoring, and a summer kids club.</p>
<p>A short time later he met some of these people, whom he learned were from a church he’d never seen or heard of. Then he met Buckley, who took him under her wing.</p>
<p>“She gave me a job working for her,” Shields said.</p>
<p>She also invited him to Northminster, where he was touched by the warmth of welcome he felt in the 800-member, mostly white congregation. The church is located about four miles from the the neighborhood.</p>
<p>Shields, now 23, also loved pastor Chuck Poole’s preaching and eventually decided to be baptized at Northminster, where he remains a member today.</p>
<p>Through the years church members helped him with various projects, homework and science fairs.</p>
<p />
<p>“They helped me graduate and helped me with the ACT,” he said. “They helped me go to college.”</p>
<p>And the Christianity he practices is right out of the Wider Net handbook, he said.</p>
<p>“Now I do the helping, the feeding of the poor and helping the elderly,” he said.</p>
<p>Shields added that he definitely sees it was a move of God to bring his path and Northminster’s together.</p>
<p>“If they weren’t there, I don’t know where I’d be,” he said.</p>
<p>‘Listening and acting’</p>
<p>Northminster’s foray into the Mid-City/Georgetown community has been equally meaningful for the church, Buckley said.</p>
<p>Once the decision was made to focus on that community —&#160;a decision taken after much investigation and touring of Jackson’s most troubled neighborhoods —&#160;the doors started opening.</p>
<p>It began with a decision to hire an associate pastor tasked with overseeing Northminster’s outreach in those neighborhoods. That’s how they found Buckley.</p>
<p>“That’s me,” she said. “That was in 2004.”</p>
<p>Next was to partner with Habitat for Humanity for five years.</p>
<p>“We bought 20 lots for Habitat,” Buckley said. “We funded a construction supervisor for five years and we helped build six houses.”</p>
<p>Then came the longer-range piece of the plan —&#160;to rent or purchase space from which to offer a variety of programs for Mid-City/Georgetown town, adjoining neighborhoods separated by a single thoroughfare.</p>
<p>It happened when a resident connected the church with a local man who had recently renovated a house in the community.</p>
<p>“He did not have the funding to operate it at the time,” Buckley said. He invited Northminster’s Wider Net in for that.</p>
<p />
<p>“So we partnered with him,” she said.</p>
<p>Poole conducted a neighborhood tour to gauge needs and soon started a weekly Bible study. Soon after came the after-school programming and summer camp.</p>
<p>“We also host other events as needed, like birthday parties and baby showers,” Buckley said. “We even had a wedding in December, which I officiated.”</p>
<p>None of it would have been possible without the Holy Spirit, she said, as God led the church to the building’s owner, and led him to them.</p>
<p>“We were both listening and acting on what God was showing us,” she said.</p>
<p>The ministry has made it into the church budget and at least 350 church members have been directly involved with Wider Net, she said.</p>
<p>“It’s changing their lives in the relationships they are forming when they work on a project or visit a person in Mid-City,” Buckley said. That can be in working with people in substandard housing, helping children learn to read or clearing abandoned lots in the neighborhood.</p>
<p>“When it comes to real transformations of individuals, it’s the relationships where that happens.”</p>
<p>‘Every day a door opens’</p>
<p>Jim Johnston can vouch for that.</p>
<p>The retired physician and Northminister member didn’t have much to do with Wider Net until just about four years ago.</p>
<p>It was then, about six months before his retirement, that he took a tour of the Mid-City/Georgetown area. It bugged him how many debris-strewn vacant lots there were, and how many abandoned homes.</p>
<p>“I decided something needs to be done about this,” he said. “It’s not right for these young kids growing up in these Habitat houses to be living next to these drug houses and criminal activity.”</p>
<p>Today, Johnston helps run a nonprofit that hires ex-offenders to clean up those lots for the city. In the process, he has met a lot of ex-cons and grown close to some.</p>
<p>The impact on his faith has been huge, he said.</p>
<p />
<p>“The whole process has made me much more spiritual than I was before.”</p>
<p>That’s because, like Buckley, Johnston said he sees God’s hand in every challenge he faces.</p>
<p>“Almost every day a door opens, something happens, and it’s obvious to me it wasn’t happenstance,” he said. “I think the Holy Spirit is helping us through a very challenging task.”</p>
<p>Johnston said he’s been mistaken for an undercover cop, a preacher or someone with something to sell. All of that pales compared to the relationships he’s made in the community.</p>
<p>“It’s the most interesting thing and the most worthwhile thing I have ever done,” he said. “Practicing medicine didn’t hold a candle to what we are doing now.”</p>
<p>‘The next frontier’</p>
<p>Poole said he isn’t surprise to hear stories like that. Wider Net has become a part of Northminster’s core identity because of its focus on relationships.</p>
<p>In fact, Poole never refers to the program as a ministry or mission, but as a relationship between equals.</p>
<p>“We have learned to think not of being on a mission to a neighborhood but being in a friendship with a neighborhood,” he said.</p>
<p>The reason: mission terminology assumes church members can drop in or drop out of the community.</p>
<p>“But if I’m in a friendship with a community, then that indicates real conversations, two-way streets and lots of listening on both sides of the equation,” Poole said.</p>
<p>It also took listening to even come up with the Wider Net concept.</p>
<p>That started more than 14 years ago when a church committee recommended going ahead with a long-standing plan to pave a parking lot, build a balcony in the sanctuary and construct a new education building to meet growing Sunday attendance.</p>
<p>Poole said he felt some discomfort with the idea of the church spending a large amount of money to make itself comfortable for an hour or two on Sundays, and not making an equally large commitment to the poor and struggling in Jackson.</p>
<p>So he challenged them to form another committee tasked with developing what eventually become Wider Net.</p>
<p />
<p>The challenge was accepted, he said, because it fell on ears open to such balance in church spending. Since Northminster’s birth there has been a serious commitment to providing help and hope “in the most difficult corners of Jackson,” Poole said.</p>
<p>That was followed by a very long and lay-led process, including numerous town hall meetings, from which the Wider Net concept was born and launched.</p>
<p>Now the construction pieces are completed and Wider Net is thriving.</p>
<p>“We’re sitting here 14 years later and this seed the congregation sewed has come up in ways we would never have imagined,” he said.</p>
<p>And that is the friendships piece which, Poole added, may hold the key to the future for the wider church.</p>
<p>“I really think the next frontier is how do you move from missional to friendships?”</p>
<p>— Baptist News Global’s reporting on innovative congregational ministries is part of the Pacesetter Initiative, funded in part by the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation.</p>
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jeff brumley northminster baptist church jackson miss embraced missional concept missional cool 160or even word leaders say layled congregation founded late 1960s culture inclined look outside four walls orientation ministers say inspired ongoing innercity outreach continues profoundly transform church community members alike way pastors members describe founding operation wider net sounds like something right missional churches handbook church us simply got god said jill barnes buckley associate pastor community ministry church church stopping look listen move holy spirit warm welcoming kristopher shields 16 felt move spirit first came learned strangers operating renovated houseturnedcommunity center midcitygeorgetown area lives heard afterschool program including tutoring summer kids club short time later met people learned church hed never seen heard met buckley took wing gave job working shields said also invited northminster touched warmth welcome felt 800member mostly white congregation church located four miles neighborhood shields 23 also loved pastor chuck pooles preaching eventually decided baptized northminster remains member today years church members helped various projects homework science fairs helped graduate helped act said helped go college christianity practices right wider net handbook said helping feeding poor helping elderly said shields added definitely sees move god bring path northminsters together werent dont know id said listening acting northminsters foray midcitygeorgetown community equally meaningful church buckley said decision made focus community 160a decision taken much investigation touring jacksons troubled neighborhoods 160the doors started opening began decision hire associate pastor tasked overseeing northminsters outreach neighborhoods thats found buckley thats said 2004 next partner habitat humanity five years bought 20 lots habitat buckley said funded construction supervisor five years helped build six houses came longerrange piece plan 160to rent purchase space offer variety programs midcitygeorgetown town adjoining neighborhoods separated single thoroughfare happened resident connected church local man recently renovated house community funding operate time buckley said invited northminsters wider net partnered said poole conducted neighborhood tour gauge needs soon started weekly bible study soon came afterschool programming summer camp also host events needed like birthday parties baby showers buckley said even wedding december officiated none would possible without holy spirit said god led church buildings owner led listening acting god showing us said ministry made church budget least 350 church members directly involved wider net said changing lives relationships forming work project visit person midcity buckley said working people substandard housing helping children learn read clearing abandoned lots neighborhood comes real transformations individuals relationships happens every day door opens jim johnston vouch retired physician northminister member didnt much wider net four years ago six months retirement took tour midcitygeorgetown area bugged many debrisstrewn vacant lots many abandoned homes decided something needs done said right young kids growing habitat houses living next drug houses criminal activity today johnston helps run nonprofit hires exoffenders clean lots city process met lot excons grown close impact faith huge said whole process made much spiritual thats like buckley johnston said sees gods hand every challenge faces almost every day door opens something happens obvious wasnt happenstance said think holy spirit helping us challenging task johnston said hes mistaken undercover cop preacher someone something sell pales compared relationships hes made community interesting thing worthwhile thing ever done said practicing medicine didnt hold candle next frontier poole said isnt surprise hear stories like wider net become part northminsters core identity focus relationships fact poole never refers program ministry mission relationship equals learned think mission neighborhood friendship neighborhood said reason mission terminology assumes church members drop drop community im friendship community indicates real conversations twoway streets lots listening sides equation poole said also took listening even come wider net concept started 14 years ago church committee recommended going ahead longstanding plan pave parking lot build balcony sanctuary construct new education building meet growing sunday attendance poole said felt discomfort idea church spending large amount money make comfortable hour two sundays making equally large commitment poor struggling jackson challenged form another committee tasked developing eventually become wider net challenge accepted said fell ears open balance church spending since northminsters birth serious commitment providing help hope difficult corners jackson poole said followed long layled process including numerous town hall meetings wider net concept born launched construction pieces completed wider net thriving sitting 14 years later seed congregation sewed come ways would never imagined said friendships piece poole added may hold key future wider church really think next frontier move missional friendships baptist news globals reporting innovative congregational ministries part pacesetter initiative funded part eula mae john baugh foundation
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<p>I remember the day my mom died. The night before, we’d fallen asleep together in her room. I was wrapped up tight in my Princess Jasmine sleeping bag at the foot of her bed as she slept delicately next to my grandmother.</p>
<p>Then everything changed.</p>
<p>I woke up the next morning in a panic on the floor of my own bedroom, still zipped in my sleeping bag, while my dad slept on my bottom bunk. When I got up and ran for the door my dad suddenly awoke. He tried to stop me, but before he could say a word, I’d already run down the hallway into my parents’ room. She wasn’t there. I stared at her empty bed for what seemed like forever.</p>
<p>No one had to say a word. I knew she was gone.</p>
<p>Today is Mother’s Day. It is also my 25th birthday. And it is 20 years since I stood in the doorway of my parents’ bedroom not understanding why my 35-year-old mother had just died from AIDS.</p>
<p>Even now I can’t say that I fully understand why she died or why my father and I are HIV free, but I can say that I am learning to answer questions about the life my mother may have lived had she been diagnosed at a time when HIV wasn’t a death sentence.</p>
<p>Many of these answers came in 2012 when I set out on a <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/global-pulse/daughters-journey-hiv-aids-part-1" type="external">reporting journey</a>&#160;for GlobalPost across two continents to document the lives of women, in particular mothers, living with HIV. The strength and courage illuminated in their daily lives made me proud of who I imagined my mom would be. Having HIV didn’t mean a life of unhappiness, but instead a life helping and caring for others—including me.</p>
<p>In my hometown of Chicago I interviewed my family about what it was like to learn my mom was HIV positive and to take care of her knowing people would judge her and that she would die. In New York I met with a mother and daughter who were educating women in their East Harlem community about how to live healthily with HIV. <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/global-pulse/AIDS-HIV-daughters-journey-notes-new-york" type="external">Susan and Christina Rodriguez’s quest</a>&#160;was motivated by their personal experiences; both women were also infected with the virus. Halfway around the globe, in Cape Town, I spent time with another HIV-positive mother, <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/health/120720/new-york-city-cape-town-aids-fight-personal-mothers" type="external">Nozi Samela</a>, who was dedicating her life to mentoring other mothers with the virus and helping them learn to take care of themselves and their newborn babies.</p>
<p>Two years later, I caught up with these courageous women.</p>
<p>Starting a new chapter in Cape Town</p>
<p>“I’m sorry to say that you have missed a lot,” Nozi said to me, laughing, when she picked up the phone earlier this week. Hearing her familiar voice took me back to South Africa where we’d met for the first time—I can still remember the salmon colored coat she was wearing that day, her infectious smile, and her bubbly laugh.</p>
<p>It was July 2012 and she’d recently become a communications associate for <a href="http://www.m2m.org" type="external">mothers2mothers</a>&#160;(m2m)—an international nonprofit organization that educates and trains HIV-positive mothers to help other HIV-positive women who are pregnant. It also sets up mentorship programs aimed to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus. At the time, Nozi also had just found out she was pregnant with her second child.</p>
<p>I never would have known that Nozi was living with HIV when we met. She looked happy and healthy, she was glowing, and she was thriving in her career. But that was not always the case. When Nozi first came to m2m 8 years earlier, she told me, she was just 19, six months pregnant with her first child, and recently diagnosed with HIV.</p>
<p>With the help of m2m, Nozi changed her life. She gave birth to a healthy baby boy and went on to become one of the program’s mentors, sharing life-saving knowledge about how women with HIV can stay healthy and protect their babies from contracting the virus.</p>
<p>But three years later – five years before I met her – Nozi’s life changed again when her toddler son was killed in a car accident.</p>
<p>“I hated the organization,” Nozi told me in 2012 as she looked back on her son’s death and her role as a m2m mentor mother at the time. “It was called mothers2mothers and I was no longer a mother.”</p>
<p>Over time, however, Nozi began to redefine what being a mother meant to her and to her peers. She didn’t leave m2m. In fact, she became more involved.</p>
<p>“Mothers2mothers is not just about helping women accept their HIV status, or about helping women give birth to HIV-negative children, but it is helping women go on with their lives,” she said in 2012. “It is helping women understand that being HIV-positive is not the end of life, but actually a beginning of a new chapter.”</p>
<p>Today, Nozi’s newest chapter includes redefining motherhood through her baby girl, Mbali, who was born in November 2012.</p>
<p>“All over again things have changed for me,” she said. “Motherhood for me this time is learning--it’s a journey. Now, it is not just about nurturing and giving love or support, it’s learning a new person all over again.”</p>
<p>The journey has been an emotional one. Nozi had a complicated delivery, leaving her with no feeling in her body for reasons that the doctors could not diagnose. The numbing sensation made nursing impossible. As doctors tried to figure out what might have gone wrong, Nozi hospitalized and Mbali in the hands of nurses who would have to give her formula. Nozi was concerned, with good reason. Formula is against the World Health Organization’s instructions for HIV-positive mothers who, like Nozi, intend to breastfeed exclusively, because it can increase the risk of transmitting the virus. Nozi recovered and decided to breastfeed, but little Mbali needed to be tested.</p>
<p>“I will be honest with you, I was scared. I was terrified,” Nozi said of taking Mbali to the clinic. “I knew that I had taken my treatment; I knew I had done everything right, but then I still knew that even if the mother takes antiretroviral drugs and does everything right there is still a 2 percent chance baby could be infected.”</p>
<p>The test results took a week to get processed. It was the scariest week of Nozi’s life.</p>
<p>“The day I went to clinic to fetch the results I didn’t hear anything the counselor said to me. I was praying that if anything could change now, let it be changed,” Nozi said. “I knew if she was HIV positive nothing could change at that moment, but I was praying for [a] miracle.”</p>
<p>The test came back negative.</p>
<p>An ambassador for HIV-positive women around the world</p>
<p>With the help of m2m Nozi was able to not only learn her HIV status, but ultimately how to live a healthy life and protect both of her children from contracting the virus.</p>
<p>“Our prevention of mother to child transmission efforts are paying off, but there are some countries where there’s a long way to go,” said m2m co-founder and international director, Robin Smalley.</p>
<p>Since 2012, m2m has brought on a new CEO, Frank Beadle de Palomo, and under his leadership the organization has expanded its services. In addition to preventing mother to child transmission (PMTCT), it addresses more general maternal and newborn health issues facing women in sub-Saharan Africa, such as other infectious and chronic diseases.</p>
<p>“Our mothers are now being trained to do TB testing, to give referrals for cervical cancer screening, to raise awareness about malaria prevention, and to determine malnutrition,” Smalley said.</p>
<p>M2m is also working with the governments of Malawi an Uganda, where HIV is particularly virulent and access to healthcare can be limited, to develop and launch community-based mentor programs so that rather than having to go to different clinics for different services, as women currently must do, m2m would provide one-stop testing and support.</p>
<p>As a new mom, Nozi wants to help m2m in its new mission and hopes to use the coming years to travel abroad as an ambassador for the organization.</p>
<p>“I may have saved my daughter from HIV, and other women have saved their children, but there are so many women giving birth to HIV positive children, which is so unfair,” Nozi said. “I feel that I still have a role to play in advocating for mothers living with HIV in the entire universe.”</p>
<p>A new drive for an East Harlem community&#160;</p>
<p>On the other side of the world, in East Harlem earlier this month, I visited Christina Rodriguez and her mother, Susan. It was my first time visiting their organization's new office in a local community center.&#160;I walked up the stairs to Susan’s office and immediately, the nerves I felt were washed away when I was greeted with a warm hug from Christina. Susan sat behind her desk. She too got up and hugged me. I felt like I was home.&#160;</p>
<p>When I first met Christina two years ago, I couldn’t help but compare our stories. We were roughly the same age. She was five when her dad died; I was five when my mom died, too. Susan had contracted HIV from Christina’s dad; my dad did not contract HIV from my mom. Christina was HIV positive; I was not. In my mind we were opposite sides of the same coin.</p>
<p>Like Nozi, Susan, could help me envision the life my mother might have had if she had lived, but unlike them, Christina was the only one I knew who could show me what my life might had been had I been <a href="http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/dating-with-hiv" type="external">born positive</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>Christina was the only one of her two siblings to contract the virus. But she did not shy away from her diagnosis. Her HIV-positive status propelled her to help other kids in the same situation, and she and her siblings founded a youth program under SMART, the community-based group that Susan had founded in 1998. SMART University (Sisterhood Mobilized for AIDS/HIV Research and Treatment) is an educational organization run by and for HIV-positive women to help educate and encourage healthy living.&#160;</p>
<p>When I first met Susan and Christina, SMART served nearly 500 people and struggled to find consistent forms of funding. Since then, the organization has expanded. It has moved from an HIV support group building to a more central location in East Harlem, allowing the SMART women to tap into other community organizations to share resources and cater to more people. While funding is still a struggle, SMART now helps close to 750 people and SMART Youth has more than 65 members. Just last spring, the organization was selected by community vote to receive $180,000 in capital funding for a mobile cooking classroom and emergency response center.</p>
<p>“This district has one of highest rates of obesity, poverty, asthma, and cardio vascular disease,” Susan said. “It’s really important that we bring what we know to the community in terms of healthy eating and cooking, so we feel this would be very critical component of what SMART does.”</p>
<p>SMART also has been working with Harlem Community &amp; Academic Partnerships (HCAP) to become “research ready,” a technical designation that would allow SMART to collect data on their programs to assess and then share the impact they are having in the community.</p>
<p>“Government and academic institutions have their own criteria for assessing effectiveness of programs, so a lot of community-based organizations get left out when talking about effecting change,” said Janet Carter, SMART’s program director. “Becoming research ready is about bringing us and what we do to the table.”</p>
<p>SMART plans to take a deep dive into the data it has been collecting about its participants to see what it can do to help make a difference in terms of policy change. Susan will give a presentation on SMART’s journey to becoming research ready at the next International AIDS Conference this July in Australia, and Christina plans to go with her.</p>
<p>Both women admit that there are challenges when it comes to managing SMART while dealing with family growing pains: Christina hopes to graduate from college next semester and is navigating a long term relationship with her boyfriend. Susan is helping another daughter raise two young boys and is supporting Christina’s younger brother as he finishes college as well. Despite what comes their way, neither Christina nor Susan will rest until SMART is able to make a visible and lasting difference in the lives of those living in their community.</p>
<p>“When she talks about this mobile kitchen project this is when she’s shining and glowing,” Christina said of her mother. “This is the aspect of SMART that has rejuvenated her. This project, that’s her drive right now.”</p>
<p>“I hit the jackpot with my kids. They are great kids. I’m proud of Christina in what she does and that whatever she says comes out of Christina not out of me,” Susan said. “I’m just amazed. I’m continually amazed at what all three of my children do.”</p>
<p>The journey continues</p>
<p>I promised Susan, Christina and Nozi that I would do a better job of keeping in touch this time. I think of the three of them often. Each time I hear their stories, that gaping hole that emerged as I stood staring at my mother’s empty bed is filled up a little bit—made a little smaller by their love for life, their love for their children, and by the pieces of their lives that they have chosen to share with me.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/global-pulse/daughters-journey-hiv-aids-part-1" type="external">A Daughter's Journey, Part 1: Seeking answers on HIV/AIDS</a></p>
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remember day mom died night wed fallen asleep together room wrapped tight princess jasmine sleeping bag foot bed slept delicately next grandmother everything changed woke next morning panic floor bedroom still zipped sleeping bag dad slept bottom bunk got ran door dad suddenly awoke tried stop could say word id already run hallway parents room wasnt stared empty bed seemed like forever one say word knew gone today mothers day also 25th birthday 20 years since stood doorway parents bedroom understanding 35yearold mother died aids even cant say fully understand died father hiv free say learning answer questions life mother may lived diagnosed time hiv wasnt death sentence many answers came 2012 set reporting journey160for globalpost across two continents document lives women particular mothers living hiv strength courage illuminated daily lives made proud imagined mom would hiv didnt mean life unhappiness instead life helping caring othersincluding hometown chicago interviewed family like learn mom hiv positive take care knowing people would judge would die new york met mother daughter educating women east harlem community live healthily hiv susan christina rodriguezs quest160was motivated personal experiences women also infected virus halfway around globe cape town spent time another hivpositive mother nozi samela dedicating life mentoring mothers virus helping learn take care newborn babies two years later caught courageous women starting new chapter cape town im sorry say missed lot nozi said laughing picked phone earlier week hearing familiar voice took back south africa wed met first timei still remember salmon colored coat wearing day infectious smile bubbly laugh july 2012 shed recently become communications associate mothers2mothers160m2man international nonprofit organization educates trains hivpositive mothers help hivpositive women pregnant also sets mentorship programs aimed prevent mothertochild transmission virus time nozi also found pregnant second child never would known nozi living hiv met looked happy healthy glowing thriving career always case nozi first came m2m 8 years earlier told 19 six months pregnant first child recently diagnosed hiv help m2m nozi changed life gave birth healthy baby boy went become one programs mentors sharing lifesaving knowledge women hiv stay healthy protect babies contracting virus three years later five years met nozis life changed toddler son killed car accident hated organization nozi told 2012 looked back sons death role m2m mentor mother time called mothers2mothers longer mother time however nozi began redefine mother meant peers didnt leave m2m fact became involved mothers2mothers helping women accept hiv status helping women give birth hivnegative children helping women go lives said 2012 helping women understand hivpositive end life actually beginning new chapter today nozis newest chapter includes redefining motherhood baby girl mbali born november 2012 things changed said motherhood time learningits journey nurturing giving love support learning new person journey emotional one nozi complicated delivery leaving feeling body reasons doctors could diagnose numbing sensation made nursing impossible doctors tried figure might gone wrong nozi hospitalized mbali hands nurses would give formula nozi concerned good reason formula world health organizations instructions hivpositive mothers like nozi intend breastfeed exclusively increase risk transmitting virus nozi recovered decided breastfeed little mbali needed tested honest scared terrified nozi said taking mbali clinic knew taken treatment knew done everything right still knew even mother takes antiretroviral drugs everything right still 2 percent chance baby could infected test results took week get processed scariest week nozis life day went clinic fetch results didnt hear anything counselor said praying anything could change let changed nozi said knew hiv positive nothing could change moment praying miracle test came back negative ambassador hivpositive women around world help m2m nozi able learn hiv status ultimately live healthy life protect children contracting virus prevention mother child transmission efforts paying countries theres long way go said m2m cofounder international director robin smalley since 2012 m2m brought new ceo frank beadle de palomo leadership organization expanded services addition preventing mother child transmission pmtct addresses general maternal newborn health issues facing women subsaharan africa infectious chronic diseases mothers trained tb testing give referrals cervical cancer screening raise awareness malaria prevention determine malnutrition smalley said m2m also working governments malawi uganda hiv particularly virulent access healthcare limited develop launch communitybased mentor programs rather go different clinics different services women currently must m2m would provide onestop testing support new mom nozi wants help m2m new mission hopes use coming years travel abroad ambassador organization may saved daughter hiv women saved children many women giving birth hiv positive children unfair nozi said feel still role play advocating mothers living hiv entire universe new drive east harlem community160 side world east harlem earlier month visited christina rodriguez mother susan first time visiting organizations new office local community center160i walked stairs susans office immediately nerves felt washed away greeted warm hug christina susan sat behind desk got hugged felt like home160 first met christina two years ago couldnt help compare stories roughly age five dad died five mom died susan contracted hiv christinas dad dad contract hiv mom christina hiv positive mind opposite sides coin like nozi susan could help envision life mother might lived unlike christina one knew could show life might born positive160 christina one two siblings contract virus shy away diagnosis hivpositive status propelled help kids situation siblings founded youth program smart communitybased group susan founded 1998 smart university sisterhood mobilized aidshiv research treatment educational organization run hivpositive women help educate encourage healthy living160 first met susan christina smart served nearly 500 people struggled find consistent forms funding since organization expanded moved hiv support group building central location east harlem allowing smart women tap community organizations share resources cater people funding still struggle smart helps close 750 people smart youth 65 members last spring organization selected community vote receive 180000 capital funding mobile cooking classroom emergency response center district one highest rates obesity poverty asthma cardio vascular disease susan said really important bring know community terms healthy eating cooking feel would critical component smart smart also working harlem community amp academic partnerships hcap become research ready technical designation would allow smart collect data programs assess share impact community government academic institutions criteria assessing effectiveness programs lot communitybased organizations get left talking effecting change said janet carter smarts program director becoming research ready bringing us table smart plans take deep dive data collecting participants see help make difference terms policy change susan give presentation smarts journey becoming research ready next international aids conference july australia christina plans go women admit challenges comes managing smart dealing family growing pains christina hopes graduate college next semester navigating long term relationship boyfriend susan helping another daughter raise two young boys supporting christinas younger brother finishes college well despite comes way neither christina susan rest smart able make visible lasting difference lives living community talks mobile kitchen project shes shining glowing christina said mother aspect smart rejuvenated project thats drive right hit jackpot kids great kids im proud christina whatever says comes christina susan said im amazed im continually amazed three children journey continues promised susan christina nozi would better job keeping touch time think three often time hear stories gaping hole emerged stood staring mothers empty bed filled little bitmade little smaller love life love children pieces lives chosen share globalpost daughters journey part 1 seeking answers hivaids
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<p>A rendering of Baltimore’s Port Covington neighborhood, one of many contenders for the new Amazon HQ2. (Image courtesy Plank Industries)</p>
<p>In a little-noticed development, Amazon’s surprise announcement in September that it plans to open a second headquarters has prompted growing speculation on whether the corporate giant will consider a state or city’s laws on LGBT issues as a factor in choosing the location of the new headquarters.</p>
<p>Based on the size and scope of its current corporate headquarters in Seattle, observers familiar with the tech company say the new headquarters will likely result in a workforce of 50,000 and a $5 billion boost to the local economy of the city and state Amazon chooses.</p>
<p>LGBT rights groups, including the Human Rights Campaign, have noted that Amazon is among the most LGBT supportive corporations in the nation. It received a perfect 100 percent score on HRC’s Corporate Equality Index.</p>
<p>In October, HRC named Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos the winner of its National Equality Award for his and his company’s LGBT supportive policies, including his personal financial support for efforts to bring about marriage equality. Bezos appeared as one of the lead speakers at HRC’s annual national dinner in D.C. at the time he accepted the HRC award.</p>
<p>Given Amazon’s strong support for LGBT rights, many in the LGBT and the business community have speculated that the company would at least consider a state and city’s record on LGBT issues as a possible condition for selecting the state and city for its new headquarters.</p>
<p>In some cities, such as Atlanta and Houston, which are considered to be among the top contenders for the new Amazon headquarters, LGBT activists have expressed concern that their respective states’ poor record on LGBT rights could jeopardize their chances of landing the Amazon headquarters, even though the two cities have strong records of support for LGBT equality.</p>
<p>“The reality is many of the big cities in America, particularly in Texas – Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, El Paso – are islands in a big toxic red state,” said lesbian activist and former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, who was named earlier this month as CEO of the Victory Fund.</p>
<p>“And it’s painful to have the cities where many of our LGBTQ community live and work and where many of our officials are elected be penalized because of state actions that are discriminatory,” Parker told the Washington Blade on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Parker said she doesn’t know the status of Houston’s bid for Amazon’s new headquarters, which is being referred to as “HQ2.” But she said that as someone who represented Houston in the recent past she doesn’t want to see the city penalized.</p>
<p>Jeff Graham, executive director of the statewide LGBT advocacy group Georgia Equality, said he was hopeful that Amazon and other corporations considering moving to Atlanta would look past efforts by some in the state legislature to pass an anti-LGBT “religious liberties” bill.</p>
<p>Georgia’s Republican governor, Nathan Deal, vetoed a so-called religious freedom restoration act, or RFRA bill, in 2016 and has urged the state legislature not to jeopardize Georgia’s effort to attract Amazon by trying to pass a similar bill again next year.</p>
<p>LGBT rights advocates say the RFRA laws give businesses and some individuals a right to refuse to sell products or provide services to LGBT people on grounds of their personal religious beliefs.</p>
<p>“While Amazon has not been explicit about the impact that legislation such as RFRA would have on any specific bid, most observers agree that this is likely to be a factor in the determination of where their new headquarters will be located,” Graham said.</p>
<p>“It also should be noted that while the state lacks LGBT protections, the city of Atlanta has had an inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance on the books for nearly 20 years,” Graham said. “Finally, it’s important to point out that some 700 companies throughout Georgia have signed the Georgia Prospers pledge,” said Graham.</p>
<p>He said the pledge explicitly states that a prosperous business environment is dependent upon communities that are open and welcoming to a diverse population, including members of the LGBT community.</p>
<p>Other cities and states that have announced they have placed bids for the new Amazon headquarters include D.C., Virginia, Baltimore, Miami and Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>An Amazon spokesperson did not respond to a request from the Washington Blade to confirm whether its criteria for selecting a city and state for its new headquarters include supportive laws and policies for the LGBT community.</p>
<p>Amazon observers have pointed to the request for proposals that Amazon released when it announced it was looking for a location for its new headquarters. Among the criteria mentioned in the RFP was a reference to a “cultural community fit” for its workers along with the “presence and support of a diverse population.”</p>
<p>Some have interpreted that to mean the company wants the new host city and state to be supportive of LGBT people who would be expected to be part of Amazon’s workforce.</p>
<p>The Seattle Times, which closely covers Amazon-related developments in the company’s Seattle headquarters, reported that the company has disclosed some factors it would also look for in a new location include a close proximity to an international airport, a tech talent pool in the workforce, and a relatively low cost of living in the city or state.</p>
<p>Sara Warbelow, HRC’s legal director, said HRC is closely monitoring the impact companies like Amazon have on efforts by LGBT rights groups to push for supportive laws and policies in states and cities.</p>
<p>“One of the things we have asked corporations to do is weigh in with governors and state legislators explaining to them why it’s bad for business to target LGBTQ people in negative ways and to not adopt common sense nondiscrimination policies for LGBTQ people,” Warbelow said.</p>
<p>Warbelow was cautious in her response when asked whether HRC has specifically called on Amazon to adopt a state’s record on LGBT rights as criteria or condition for selecting a location for its new headquarters.</p>
<p>“We do a lot of education to a variety of corporations using our tools, including the Corporate Equality Index, the Municipal Equality Index and State Equality Index,” she said. “We are constantly providing information to corporations about the rights of LGBTQ people and impacts on us.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Amazon</a> <a href="" type="internal">Amazon HQ2</a> <a href="" type="internal">Annise Parker</a> <a href="" type="internal">Atlanta</a> <a href="" type="internal">Austin</a> <a href="" type="internal">Dallas</a> <a href="" type="internal">El Paso</a> <a href="" type="internal">Georgia Equality</a> <a href="" type="internal">Houston</a> <a href="" type="internal">HRC</a> <a href="" type="internal">HRC’s Corporate Equality Index</a> <a href="" type="internal">Human Rights Campaign</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jeff Bezos</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jeff Graham</a> <a href="" type="internal">LGBT</a> <a href="" type="internal">Nathan Deal</a> <a href="" type="internal">RFRA</a> <a href="" type="internal">San Antonio</a> <a href="" type="internal">Sara Warbelow</a> <a href="" type="internal">Seattle</a> <a href="" type="internal">Seattle Times</a> <a href="" type="internal">Texas</a> <a href="" type="internal">Victory Fund</a></p>
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rendering baltimores port covington neighborhood one many contenders new amazon hq2 image courtesy plank industries littlenoticed development amazons surprise announcement september plans open second headquarters prompted growing speculation whether corporate giant consider state citys laws lgbt issues factor choosing location new headquarters based size scope current corporate headquarters seattle observers familiar tech company say new headquarters likely result workforce 50000 5 billion boost local economy city state amazon chooses lgbt rights groups including human rights campaign noted amazon among lgbt supportive corporations nation received perfect 100 percent score hrcs corporate equality index october hrc named amazon ceo jeff bezos winner national equality award companys lgbt supportive policies including personal financial support efforts bring marriage equality bezos appeared one lead speakers hrcs annual national dinner dc time accepted hrc award given amazons strong support lgbt rights many lgbt business community speculated company would least consider state citys record lgbt issues possible condition selecting state city new headquarters cities atlanta houston considered among top contenders new amazon headquarters lgbt activists expressed concern respective states poor record lgbt rights could jeopardize chances landing amazon headquarters even though two cities strong records support lgbt equality reality many big cities america particularly texas houston san antonio dallas austin el paso islands big toxic red state said lesbian activist former houston mayor annise parker named earlier month ceo victory fund painful cities many lgbtq community live work many officials elected penalized state actions discriminatory parker told washington blade tuesday parker said doesnt know status houstons bid amazons new headquarters referred hq2 said someone represented houston recent past doesnt want see city penalized jeff graham executive director statewide lgbt advocacy group georgia equality said hopeful amazon corporations considering moving atlanta would look past efforts state legislature pass antilgbt religious liberties bill georgias republican governor nathan deal vetoed socalled religious freedom restoration act rfra bill 2016 urged state legislature jeopardize georgias effort attract amazon trying pass similar bill next year lgbt rights advocates say rfra laws give businesses individuals right refuse sell products provide services lgbt people grounds personal religious beliefs amazon explicit impact legislation rfra would specific bid observers agree likely factor determination new headquarters located graham said also noted state lacks lgbt protections city atlanta inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance books nearly 20 years graham said finally important point 700 companies throughout georgia signed georgia prospers pledge said graham said pledge explicitly states prosperous business environment dependent upon communities open welcoming diverse population including members lgbt community cities states announced placed bids new amazon headquarters include dc virginia baltimore miami pittsburgh amazon spokesperson respond request washington blade confirm whether criteria selecting city state new headquarters include supportive laws policies lgbt community amazon observers pointed request proposals amazon released announced looking location new headquarters among criteria mentioned rfp reference cultural community fit workers along presence support diverse population interpreted mean company wants new host city state supportive lgbt people would expected part amazons workforce seattle times closely covers amazonrelated developments companys seattle headquarters reported company disclosed factors would also look new location include close proximity international airport tech talent pool workforce relatively low cost living city state sara warbelow hrcs legal director said hrc closely monitoring impact companies like amazon efforts lgbt rights groups push supportive laws policies states cities one things asked corporations weigh governors state legislators explaining bad business target lgbtq people negative ways adopt common sense nondiscrimination policies lgbtq people warbelow said warbelow cautious response asked whether hrc specifically called amazon adopt states record lgbt rights criteria condition selecting location new headquarters lot education variety corporations using tools including corporate equality index municipal equality index state equality index said constantly providing information corporations rights lgbtq people impacts us amazon amazon hq2 annise parker atlanta austin dallas el paso georgia equality houston hrc hrcs corporate equality index human rights campaign jeff bezos jeff graham lgbt nathan deal rfra san antonio sara warbelow seattle seattle times texas victory fund
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<p>BOSTON — The stock market is often uncannily prescient when it comes to anticipating better days ahead. Long before the finest minds are able to script out a path to economic recovery, military victory, or whatever it is that plagues the world — stock markets rally. With very few exceptions over the past 100 years, markets have rallied some six to nine months before the end of an economic downturn. Typically the more severe the decline in share values, the more vigorous the subsequent rallies that follow.</p>
<p>Stocks tend to hit rock bottom when hope has been extinguished, when the world looks down a long, dark tunnel only to see pitch black. As the first thin rays of light appear far in the distance, they are invisible to the naked eye of even the most cunning seers. Yet they are mysteriously identified by the night-vision goggles of the market.</p>
<p>The reasons for this are the subject of much debate. Of course the stock market is notorious for its drunken follies during the late stages of bull markets, such as we witnessed during the dot com euphoria of the late 1990s. But let’s look at some of the major bottoms in the U.S. stock market. The market’s predictive prowess comes to play most often towards the end of deep and scarring bear markets. It is then, in its sober wisdom, that the stock market so often detects those signals of hope that are inaudible amid the static of noisy pessimism.</p>
<p>Take July 1932, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average sank to its Depression-era low of 41 points before rallying to more than 100 by the end of 1933, a gain of more than 140 percent. The newspapers of July 1932 reflected a nation paralyzed by fear, poverty and hopelessness. The market’s rise off the low was due, in retrospect, to the early and fragile hope that Franklin Delano Roosevelt, widely expected to win the November election, might actually deliver on what began as just a campaign slogan: “I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people.”</p>
<p>The economic statistics that coincided with the powerful 1932-1933 rally are grim. Unemployment continued to rise in 1933 to a level of nearly 25 percent while the economy continued to contract. Yet the market correctly identified that at least some of the many economic and social initiatives of the early 1930s would eventually gain traction and arrest the decline in economic activity.</p>
<p>The low made during WWII is equally illustrative. It occurred in the spring of 1942, a time when Japan’s string of successes throughout the Pacific was stunning and the German move eastward into Russia looked unstoppable. The Dow hit 93 before rallying to around 145 by late summer 1943, a 56 percent move.</p>
<p>In his book, "Wealth, War, and Wisdom," former chief investment strategist for Morgan Stanley Barton Biggs writes:</p>
<p>"The New York stock market recognized that the victories at the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway in May and June of 1942 were the turn of the tide in the Pacific, and from the lows of that spring never looked back, but I can find no such thoughts in the newspapers or from military experts of the time. A barrage of defeats and surrenders had engendered intense criticism of the management of the war and the commanders in the field. The wise men of the media were so busy wringing their hands that they didn’t grasp the significance of the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway as the high-water mark of Japan’s grand design for empire and of its attack on the United States."</p>
<p>A final important market low worthy of examination took place in December 1974. It occurred against the backdrop of a country numb from Nixon’s resignation in August of that year and the impending collapse of the South Vietnamese regime (the fall of Saigon would take place in April 1975). The Dow advanced from 577 in December 1974 to 879 in June 1975, just six months later, for a return of 52 percent.</p>
<p>It was during this period that stagflation — the toxic combination of slow growth and high inflation — became the buzz word of the day. Consensus opinion held that Watergate would disgrace the office of the presidency for decades to come and render the United States impotent on the global stage. Yet the stock market somehow discerned that inflation would eventually return to pre oil-shock levels, that Gerald Ford would usher in a period of political calm, and that business would once again prosper in the face of the costly and protracted Cold War.</p>
<p>The question that looms today is: can policy makers prevail in warding off a long and deep recession? In the face of the current crisis, the actions of the U.S. Federal Reserve, Treasury and Congress have been swift. With all the partisan bickering in Washington, this may not seem the case. Yet the Lehman bankruptcy, the key cause of the dislocation to credit markets, which in turn led to the collapse of the global economy, occurred only last September. In other words, in less than six months, the proportional size and breadth of the policy response to our economic woes dwarfs by a large margin what it took the Japanese authorities to do some five years into Japan’s economic downturn in the 1990s.</p>
<p>Certainly many of the initiatives to stimulate the economy will fail, as did many under Roosevelt. Yet the actions taken collectively are bold, imaginative and vast in scale. We are not only talking about traditional spending and highly aggressive and innovative monetary stimulus, but a huge mortgage relief program and the largest financial stability initiative in history. In the aggregate, the economic recovery program which is just now gathering steam is so massive in scope that one is forced to look to the Great Depression to find even a remote precedent.</p>
<p>Yet our economic downturn cannot by any good measure be seriously compared to the Depression. Unemployment in the United States, according to the most dire predictions, is likely to reach 10 to 12 percent in 2010 versus a peak of 25 percent during the Depression; GDP, again under the most pessimistic assumptions, is forecast to contract by a cumulative 8 to 11 percent before this recession ends, whereas during the Depression, GDP was cut in half.</p>
<p>Might we be approaching one of those junctures in history where we see pitch black while the stock market begins to make out the silhouette of a late 2009 recovery? Certainly if the whispers of a recovery some six to nine months away exist at all, they are being drowned out by the cacophony of the media and the high-pitched rancor on Capital Hill. If the history of previous bear markets provides any insight, it is that stocks will rise long before the most seasoned economists and financiers can spot an economic recovery on the horizon.</p>
<p>Andrew Parlin is a founding principal of Parlin Investments LLC in Boston. Contact: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
<p>More GlobalPost dispatches on commerce:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/commerce/090306/chinas-economy-pay-attention-7-little-words" type="external">China's economy: Pay attention to 7 little words</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/china-and-its-neighbors/090306/why-these-taiwanese-call-their-president-liar" type="external">Why these Taiwanese call their president a "liar"</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/egypt/090305/cairo-2-day" type="external">Cairo on $2 per day</a></p>
<p>For more on the global economic crisis: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/commerce/090212/special-report" type="external" /></p>
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boston stock market often uncannily prescient comes anticipating better days ahead long finest minds able script path economic recovery military victory whatever plagues world stock markets rally exceptions past 100 years markets rallied six nine months end economic downturn typically severe decline share values vigorous subsequent rallies follow stocks tend hit rock bottom hope extinguished world looks long dark tunnel see pitch black first thin rays light appear far distance invisible naked eye even cunning seers yet mysteriously identified nightvision goggles market reasons subject much debate course stock market notorious drunken follies late stages bull markets witnessed dot com euphoria late 1990s lets look major bottoms us stock market markets predictive prowess comes play often towards end deep scarring bear markets sober wisdom stock market often detects signals hope inaudible amid static noisy pessimism take july 1932 dow jones industrial average sank depressionera low 41 points rallying 100 end 1933 gain 140 percent newspapers july 1932 reflected nation paralyzed fear poverty hopelessness markets rise low due retrospect early fragile hope franklin delano roosevelt widely expected win november election might actually deliver began campaign slogan pledge pledge new deal american people economic statistics coincided powerful 19321933 rally grim unemployment continued rise 1933 level nearly 25 percent economy continued contract yet market correctly identified least many economic social initiatives early 1930s would eventually gain traction arrest decline economic activity low made wwii equally illustrative occurred spring 1942 time japans string successes throughout pacific stunning german move eastward russia looked unstoppable dow hit 93 rallying around 145 late summer 1943 56 percent move book wealth war wisdom former chief investment strategist morgan stanley barton biggs writes new york stock market recognized victories battles coral sea midway may june 1942 turn tide pacific lows spring never looked back find thoughts newspapers military experts time barrage defeats surrenders engendered intense criticism management war commanders field wise men media busy wringing hands didnt grasp significance battles coral sea midway highwater mark japans grand design empire attack united states final important market low worthy examination took place december 1974 occurred backdrop country numb nixons resignation august year impending collapse south vietnamese regime fall saigon would take place april 1975 dow advanced 577 december 1974 879 june 1975 six months later return 52 percent period stagflation toxic combination slow growth high inflation became buzz word day consensus opinion held watergate would disgrace office presidency decades come render united states impotent global stage yet stock market somehow discerned inflation would eventually return pre oilshock levels gerald ford would usher period political calm business would prosper face costly protracted cold war question looms today policy makers prevail warding long deep recession face current crisis actions us federal reserve treasury congress swift partisan bickering washington may seem case yet lehman bankruptcy key cause dislocation credit markets turn led collapse global economy occurred last september words less six months proportional size breadth policy response economic woes dwarfs large margin took japanese authorities five years japans economic downturn 1990s certainly many initiatives stimulate economy fail many roosevelt yet actions taken collectively bold imaginative vast scale talking traditional spending highly aggressive innovative monetary stimulus huge mortgage relief program largest financial stability initiative history aggregate economic recovery program gathering steam massive scope one forced look great depression find even remote precedent yet economic downturn good measure seriously compared depression unemployment united states according dire predictions likely reach 10 12 percent 2010 versus peak 25 percent depression gdp pessimistic assumptions forecast contract cumulative 8 11 percent recession ends whereas depression gdp cut half might approaching one junctures history see pitch black stock market begins make silhouette late 2009 recovery certainly whispers recovery six nine months away exist drowned cacophony media highpitched rancor capital hill history previous bear markets provides insight stocks rise long seasoned economists financiers spot economic recovery horizon andrew parlin founding principal parlin investments llc boston contact andrewparlininvestmentscom globalpost dispatches commerce chinas economy pay attention 7 little words taiwanese call president liar cairo 2 per day global economic crisis
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<p>QUITO, Ecuador — In Cuba, on her 15th birthday, a girl gets a big coming out party. A boy might get cash to go out on the town.</p>
<p>For Alberto Garcia Martinez's 15th birthday, in 1974, his parents gave him money to go shopping in Havana's city center, where he was subsequently picked up in a police sweep targeting gays. For an effeminate teen who did not yet realize he was gay, the experience was both terrifying and confusing.</p>
<p>At his court appearance, his mother, a high-ranking Cuban bureaucrat, sat next to him, weeping out of shame.</p>
<p>We spoke in the office of Asylum Access Ecuador, a legal aid group helping refugees in Ecuador’s capital, where Garcia says he fled after being persecuted in Cuba for his advocacy on behalf of gay rights. His story offers a window into the ongoing struggles of the LGBT community that challenges Cuba’s official narrative of progress on the issue. It also highlights the reluctance of Ecuador’s own government to recognize the limits of political dissent there.</p>
<p>In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Cuba" type="external">pre-revolutionary Cuba</a>, many gay men became involved in a prostitution industry that catered to military personnel and tourists from the US, although homosexuality at the time was criminalized. In the decades following the Revolution, gays and lesbians faced official persecution in Cuba, including the threat of forced labor and prison.</p>
<p>Critics argue that, while the revolution may have inherited the biases of the prevailing Roman Catholic cultural order, persecution of the LGBT community <a href="http://www.opeal.net/index.php?option=com_k2&amp;view=item&amp;id=13033:from-persecution-to-acceptance?-the-history-of-lgbt-rights-in-cuba" type="external">was really institutionalized under Castro</a>, who associated homosexuality with bourgeois decadence and the American sex tourist-oriented prostitution industry of the Batista years.</p>
<p>Reinaldo Arenas, whose memoir “ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Before-Night-Falls-A-Memoir/dp/0140157654" type="external">Before Night Falls</a>” was made into a film starring Javier Bardem and Johnny Depp, wrote that the 1960s were “when all the new laws against homosexuals came into being, when the persecution started and concentration camps were opened, when the sexual act became taboo while the ‘new man’ was being proclaimed and masculinity exalted.” Castro’s was a macho revolution that idealized the values of rural living, and he reportedly claimed that in the countryside there were no homosexuals. The paranoid crackdown against the LGBT community— "others" in an era when difference was suspect—was further heightened by an obsession with national security during the years of CIA meddling.</p>
<p>Things have improved since, and Fidel Castro eventually took responsibility for the persecution of gays during the 1960s and 1970s, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/08/31/cuba.castro.gays/" type="external">calling it a “great injustice.”</a></p>
<p>Today his niece, Mariela Castro, is an internationally recognized advocate for LGBT rights (in May she was <a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/05/06/181503168/mariela-castro-wins-gay-rights-award" type="external">honored with a gay equality award</a> in Philadelphia, but not everyone was happy with the decision: Wendy Iriepa, a transgender woman and famous Cuban LGBT activist who used to work with Castro, <a href="http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/2013/07/cuban-lgbt-dissidents-visiting-miami-dont-believe-mariela-castro-about-gay-rights-on-the-island.html" type="external">took issue with her portrayal of progress in Cuba</a>: “Everything is fake, it’s false,” she told the Miami Herald. “The gays still feel repression. Mariela sells to the world the same image the Cuban government does.”)</p>
<p>In Garcia's case, the court sent him to a "reeducation center." It was a searing experience — he worked to project an air of strength to avoid being raped by older men as some of the other boys were — but also one that inspired a concern for gay rights.</p>
<p>After he was released, Garcia finished high school, married a woman (to please his mother), and had two daughters. He joined the art and theater community, fell in love with a man, and divorced his wife. He found a job as an artistic director at a popular nightclub, and he had dreams of studying in Colombia, where his boyfriend was from, and becoming a film director. For his first subject, he began a documentary focused on the plight of gays in Cuba.</p>
<p>Although he didn't have a press pass, he started interviewing people and filming police roundups and crackdowns on gay clubs. When it was completed, his boyfriend returned to Colombia, where they planned to screen it.</p>
<p>In February 2011, as he awaited a response from the Colombian embassy, Garcia threw a party. He lived with his parents in a neighborhood that was home to many Americans. He had often tried to engage his American neighbors, but they usually declined, saying they didn't want to get him in trouble with Cuban authorities.</p>
<p>As he tells it, on their way out that night, he and his friends passed the home of an American diplomat and noticed there was an event going on with lots of cars parked outside.</p>
<p>Garcia recognized one as a typical unmarked Cuban police car. It annoyed him. One of his daughters had married an American and was living happily in Miami. She told him she had more pairs of shoes than she could count. He had an idyllic vision of freedom in the US, and thought Cuba was 30 years behind it.</p>
<p>But he thought the stakeout was just some local cop harassing the Americans, and he snapped a photo, telling himself he would go file a complaint at the police station. But instead the cops in the car stopped his group and detained him and his Columbian boyfriend, taking them to the Interior Ministry for an all-night interrogation.</p>
<p>His boyfriend was held for 10 days and then deported. Garcia's mother was able to secure his release after just two days through a friend in the government. But the police subsequently searched his family's home and found his documentary material. His family kicked him out. His employment contract at the nightclub was canceled, and he couldn't rent a flat because he kept getting disqualified by background checks.</p>
<p>He soon found himself out on the street. At the time, he says, he still didn’t know what he was being investigated for — did the authorities suspect he was an American informant? Or was it his documentary material? Then he found out that the investigation concerned "subversive propaganda."</p>
<p>Officials told him he would be unable to leave the country. Garcia was constantly subjected to interrogations. Eventually he got involved with <a href="http://www.damasdeblanco.com" type="external">Damas en Blanco</a>, a group of women dissidents who initially formed to stand up for their imprisoned sons and husbands, and he started his own group advocating for gay-rights.</p>
<p>Garcia was <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/10/us-cuba-rights-idUSBRE9B916G20131210" type="external">demonstrating on International Human Rights Day</a>, he says, when police hit him and knocked out his teeth. He was facing an 11 year sentence for "resisting arrest," but his mother's contact got it reduced to a 200 peso fine. He continued his political activities but soon began receiving calls saying he would disappear.</p>
<p>One day, he was contacted by a prominent Cuban working a professor of diction in Ecuador. She told him she could arrange to get him out of Cuba. Garcia's daughter wired her $3,000. But once in Ecuador he ended up a virtual hostage, living in her house while her husband continued to extort money from his daughter, threatening to have him deported. Eventually Roberto confronted her at a party and a gay Ecuadorian there who heard his story helped him to escape to Quito, where he filed for asylum.</p>
<p>He was rejected — on the basis of an executive decree imposing a deadline to file for asylum within 15 days of entering the country (AAE has since filed a case in the constitutional court on his behalf, challenging the decree).</p>
<p>A few years ago Ecuador was granting asylum at record levels, mostly to some of the estimated 135,000-500,000 Colombians in the country. Ecuador is now home to the <a href="http://asylumaccess.org/AsylumAccess/who-we-are/ecuador" type="external">highest number of refugees in Latin America</a>. But President Rafael Correa subsequently clamped down dramatically on the number of refugees being recognized and began revoking refugee status from some of those who had already received it.</p>
<p>Daniela Salazar, a refugee law professor at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, says that the changes in Ecuador's refugee policies are a function of Correa's foreign relations. She sees the initially welcoming stance toward Colombian refugees, in part, as a move to discredit the administration of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe.</p>
<p>"It was sending the message that, okay, we have all of these refugees in Ecuador because things are going wrong in Colombia [with] this right-wing government. And so we, the left-wing government, are taking of these people," she said.</p>
<p>That incentive changed after a new administraation was elected in Colombia.</p>
<p>In recent years, <a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2010/0604/For-Cubans-Ecuador-is-the-new-Florida" type="external">tens of thousands of Cubans have entered Ecuador</a>, giving rise to a market for arranged marriages to secure a longterm visa. Many Cubans are presumably looking to earn a better living. But a great many others initially applied for political asylum, said Salazar, a number that dropped off considerably as Cubans grew discouraged by their dismal acceptance rate.</p>
<p>“People have come here and made the case that because they could be jailed for their political opinions they deserve refugee status. There are very, very few Cubans who have been accepted as refugees. But some of them have very strong cases… You could make a case for every Cuban almost, that they don't enjoy human rights there."</p>
<p>"With Cubans what happens is, again it's the political message. Correa doesn't want to say that there are problems in Cuba at all. This government won't recognize that people are being politically persecuted in Cuba,” she said.</p>
<p>Now Garcia has been told by American authorities that he has been accepted for resettlement in the U.S. and is undergoing his last security check. But the process often takes several months. In the meantime, he has had trouble finding a place to live because of housing discrimination against gays, people of color, and Cubans.</p>
<p>Faced with a daunting reality in Ecuador, he struggles to maintain his optimism, and is eager to join his daughter in Miami to begin a new life. "I'm 54," he tells me, "but in Miami I'll be 20."</p>
<p>Anna-Katarina Gravgaard contributed reporting.</p>
<p>William Wheeler's reporting in Ecuador was supported by a grant from the French-American Immigration Journalism Fellowship program.</p>
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quito ecuador cuba 15th birthday girl gets big coming party boy might get cash go town alberto garcia martinezs 15th birthday 1974 parents gave money go shopping havanas city center subsequently picked police sweep targeting gays effeminate teen yet realize gay experience terrifying confusing court appearance mother highranking cuban bureaucrat sat next weeping shame spoke office asylum access ecuador legal aid group helping refugees ecuadors capital garcia says fled persecuted cuba advocacy behalf gay rights story offers window ongoing struggles lgbt community challenges cubas official narrative progress issue also highlights reluctance ecuadors government recognize limits political dissent prerevolutionary cuba many gay men became involved prostitution industry catered military personnel tourists us although homosexuality time criminalized decades following revolution gays lesbians faced official persecution cuba including threat forced labor prison critics argue revolution may inherited biases prevailing roman catholic cultural order persecution lgbt community really institutionalized castro associated homosexuality bourgeois decadence american sex touristoriented prostitution industry batista years reinaldo arenas whose memoir night falls made film starring javier bardem johnny depp wrote 1960s new laws homosexuals came persecution started concentration camps opened sexual act became taboo new man proclaimed masculinity exalted castros macho revolution idealized values rural living reportedly claimed countryside homosexuals paranoid crackdown lgbt community others era difference suspectwas heightened obsession national security years cia meddling things improved since fidel castro eventually took responsibility persecution gays 1960s 1970s calling great injustice today niece mariela castro internationally recognized advocate lgbt rights may honored gay equality award philadelphia everyone happy decision wendy iriepa transgender woman famous cuban lgbt activist used work castro took issue portrayal progress cuba everything fake false told miami herald gays still feel repression mariela sells world image cuban government garcias case court sent reeducation center searing experience worked project air strength avoid raped older men boys also one inspired concern gay rights released garcia finished high school married woman please mother two daughters joined art theater community fell love man divorced wife found job artistic director popular nightclub dreams studying colombia boyfriend becoming film director first subject began documentary focused plight gays cuba although didnt press pass started interviewing people filming police roundups crackdowns gay clubs completed boyfriend returned colombia planned screen february 2011 awaited response colombian embassy garcia threw party lived parents neighborhood home many americans often tried engage american neighbors usually declined saying didnt want get trouble cuban authorities tells way night friends passed home american diplomat noticed event going lots cars parked outside garcia recognized one typical unmarked cuban police car annoyed one daughters married american living happily miami told pairs shoes could count idyllic vision freedom us thought cuba 30 years behind thought stakeout local cop harassing americans snapped photo telling would go file complaint police station instead cops car stopped group detained columbian boyfriend taking interior ministry allnight interrogation boyfriend held 10 days deported garcias mother able secure release two days friend government police subsequently searched familys home found documentary material family kicked employment contract nightclub canceled couldnt rent flat kept getting disqualified background checks soon found street time says still didnt know investigated authorities suspect american informant documentary material found investigation concerned subversive propaganda officials told would unable leave country garcia constantly subjected interrogations eventually got involved damas en blanco group women dissidents initially formed stand imprisoned sons husbands started group advocating gayrights garcia demonstrating international human rights day says police hit knocked teeth facing 11 year sentence resisting arrest mothers contact got reduced 200 peso fine continued political activities soon began receiving calls saying would disappear one day contacted prominent cuban working professor diction ecuador told could arrange get cuba garcias daughter wired 3000 ecuador ended virtual hostage living house husband continued extort money daughter threatening deported eventually roberto confronted party gay ecuadorian heard story helped escape quito filed asylum rejected basis executive decree imposing deadline file asylum within 15 days entering country aae since filed case constitutional court behalf challenging decree years ago ecuador granting asylum record levels mostly estimated 135000500000 colombians country ecuador home highest number refugees latin america president rafael correa subsequently clamped dramatically number refugees recognized began revoking refugee status already received daniela salazar refugee law professor universidad san francisco de quito says changes ecuadors refugee policies function correas foreign relations sees initially welcoming stance toward colombian refugees part move discredit administration colombian president alvaro uribe sending message okay refugees ecuador things going wrong colombia rightwing government leftwing government taking people said incentive changed new administraation elected colombia recent years tens thousands cubans entered ecuador giving rise market arranged marriages secure longterm visa many cubans presumably looking earn better living great many others initially applied political asylum said salazar number dropped considerably cubans grew discouraged dismal acceptance rate people come made case could jailed political opinions deserve refugee status cubans accepted refugees strong cases could make case every cuban almost dont enjoy human rights cubans happens political message correa doesnt want say problems cuba government wont recognize people politically persecuted cuba said garcia told american authorities accepted resettlement us undergoing last security check process often takes several months meantime trouble finding place live housing discrimination gays people color cubans faced daunting reality ecuador struggles maintain optimism eager join daughter miami begin new life im 54 tells miami ill 20 annakatarina gravgaard contributed reporting william wheelers reporting ecuador supported grant frenchamerican immigration journalism fellowship program
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<p>The answer for the Chicago Public Schools is that between 1993 and 1999, it happened in about 2 percent of classrooms in 3rd through 8th grades, report economist Steven Levitt and U. of C. doctoral student Brian Jacob. In raw numbers, that’s about 700 cases of test tampering.</p>
<p>Accounting for no more than 10 percent of the test-score gains during that period, the evident cheating had no appreciable impact on the citywide results, the scholars say.</p>
<p>After determining the likely level of cheating, the pair then sought to determine the impact of two high-profile CPS policies that are tied to testing: school probation and student retention. Their conclusion was that the practice of putting low-scoring schools on probation had increased the amount of cheating but that the practice of holding low-scoring students back had not.</p>
<p>The data also told Levitt and Jacob that cheating is orchestrated by individual teachers not principals.</p>
<p>What they analyzed</p>
<p>The cheating analysis involved a database that contained the response of every student in 3rd through 8th grade to every question on the math and reading portions of the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills administered each spring.</p>
<p>The statistical method Levitt and Jacob developed looks for improbable test score gains and unusual answer patterns classroom by classroom. High gains alone may signal good teaching; however, high gains combined with unusual answer patterns—for example, students who choose the wrong answers to easy questions but correct answers to hard questions-constitutes solid evidence of cheating, Levitt explains.</p>
<p>The U. of C. method even can predict the chances of a student’s answering a certain question correctly based on his or her past ITBS performance.</p>
<p>In Levitt’s view, adult cheaters are worth pursuing, however small their numbers, because of their potential corrupting influence on children. “It’s not that I don’t understand why teachers cheat,” he says. “I’m not saying I wouldn’t do the same thing in their shoes, but it’s still morally reprehensible.”</p>
<p>Last Spring, Levitt introduced his system to then Deputy Chief of Staff Arne Duncan, who was subsequently promoted to Chief Executive Officer.</p>
<p>Duncan says he needs to “get all the facts” before deciding whether to adopt the system but adds that he’s “more than intrigued with the idea.”</p>
<p>Looking at incentives</p>
<p>In his research on crime, Levitt had looked at whether certain penalties or law enforcement practices influenced criminals to commit fewer crimes. “A lot of my work is about how people respond to incentives,” he notes. Two School Board policies linked to the ITBS could give school staff incentive to cheat, he believed: a probation policy that imposes sanctions on schools that perform poorly and a promotion policy that requires low-scoring students to repeat a grade.</p>
<p>In September 1996, the School Board put schools on probation for the first time; the list included all schools where fewer than 15 percent of students scored at or above national norms in reading on the ITBS. Failure to improve, board officials warned, could result in staff dismissals.</p>
<p>The following spring, Levitt and Jacobs found, cheating incidents on the ITBS reading test jumped 75 percent. Nearly all of the increase came from schools in the bottom third of the system on ITBS scores. Classrooms where students had scored poorly in reading the previous spring were most likely to have evidence of cheating.</p>
<p>Cheating on the math test, which does not count towards academic probation, did not increase, they discovered.</p>
<p>The practice of retaining low-scoring students began in the spring of 1996 with 8th-graders; the next spring, it was extended to 3rd- and 6th-graders as well. Levitt says he can think of several reasons why that policy might induce teachers to cheat on the spring test: fear of looking bad if too many children are retained, not wanting to teach certain students again, and sympathy for struggling students who face retention.</p>
<p>So it came as a surprise that cheating at the benchmark grades rose only slightly relative to other grade levels after the promotion policy was enacted, Levitt says. “It seems that teachers are responding to the risk [that] their school might be put on probation rather than the risk of students being sent to summer school.”</p>
<p>Teachers, rather than administrators, appear to be the primary cheating culprits, Levitt and Jacobs say. If an administrator were responsible, they reason, cheating would appear in many classrooms in a school. What they found was that where cheating occurred, it turned up in no more than a few classrooms and typically in only one.</p>
<p>“Teachers just get scared,” says one new language arts teacher who recently left a school where she believes some of her colleagues cheated on the ITBS. “A lot of us aren’t tenured. A lot of us aren’t even assigned. A principal can walk into your classroom and say, ‘Okay, I’m opening your position.'”</p>
<p>Most new teachers in the district are hired as Full-time Basis Substitutes (FTBs), who, unlike tenured or regularly assigned teachers, can be fired at the principal’s whim. For that reason, new teachers feel tremendous pressure to post high test score gains, according to a veteran teacher from Clinton elementary in West Ridge, who believes an FTB is responsible for a cheating incident at her school.</p>
<p>In May, Channel 7 News reported that Clinton was one of eight schools being investigated for cheating on the ITBS. A teacher at Clinton allegedly obtained a copy of the math ITBS ahead of time and used it for practice with her students. No other schools were identified in that broadcast, and board officials have declined to name any.</p>
<p>Board safeguards</p>
<p>To prevent cheating on the ITBS, the board has long required schools to follow a list of test security procedures. For instance, tests and answer sheets must be kept in locked storage except during the test administration. Teachers in grades 4 through 8 may not administer the test to their own students, although they may be present during the testing.</p>
<p>These procedures can be circumvented, teachers report. One teacher at an elementary school that recently got off probation says that although she has not cheated, she has had the opportunity to do so. “There’s no undercover sneaky way to do it. You just do it,” she explains. “You ask the child. ‘Did you really read that—Or just point to the answer.'”</p>
<p>Other teachers at her school do cheat, she believes. Teacher aides who proctor the ITBS at her school joke about the cheating but don’t report it, she says. “You don’t snitch.”</p>
<p>Another teacher who says her elementary school was investigated for cheating last year believes that some of her colleagues teamed up. “‘I’ll cheat for you if you cheat for me.’ I think that’s how they work it out.”</p>
<p>Once the spring tests are completed and scanned, the Office of Accountability does a computer analysis to search for suspicious results. First, it looks at score gains classroom by classroom. A typical classroom would show a year’s growth over the previous year’s scores. Classrooms where students gained an average of two years would merit a closer look, according to assessment director Joseph Hahn, and that involves an item-by-item analysis.</p>
<p>Classrooms under suspicion, along with a random sample of other classrooms, are retested in May. In all, the board retests or “audits” about 120 classes at 100 schools each spring, mostly at the benchmark grades.</p>
<p>The audit is intended as a deterrent to cheating, as well as a method for detecting it. Proving cheating is another matter. For one, students rarely score as well on the retest as they did on the initial examination, according to Chief Accountability Officer Philip Hansen.</p>
<p>The retest doesn’t count for them, so there’s less incentive to do well. And sometimes students are uncomfortable with School Board staff who arrive to retest them, he says. “The kids get upset, they get nervous, they get mad.”</p>
<p>Sometimes innocent teachers are caught in the auditing net, and school staff get angry. For example, Hansen says that a principal wrote him an irate letter recently, complaining that one of his teachers had been audited three years in a row and that each year the audit validated the high gains. Hansen says the principal wanted to know why the board didn’t come out and congratulate the teacher instead. “So I just wrote a mea culpa and apologized for that,” he says.</p>
<p>Only classrooms with extreme differences in test score results during the audit are investigated more closely, Hansen says. That involves “the laborious and time-consuming process” of comparing how consistently each student answered similar test items on each of the two tests. Student answer sheets also are examined for erasure marks. If 90 percent or more of the responses were switched from the wrong answer to the right one, says Hansen, that’s a sign of cheating.</p>
<p>Schools investigated</p>
<p>Schools suspected of cheating are referred to an investigative team in the Office of Schools and Regions, which conducts interviews at the school site. Over the past two school years, the team has sought evidence of cheating at about 15 schools, according to investigations director Thomas Sherry, and substantiated allegations at several of them. Other investigations proved inconclusive, he says, or are ongoing.</p>
<p>“It’s difficult to conclusively prove test cheating,” explains Marilyn Johnson, the board’s chief attorney, because it usually requires an eye-witness. Johnson can recall only two incidents where CPS staff were disciplined in connection with a cheating investigation. In 1996, the principal and curriculum coordinator at Clay Elementary in Hegewisch were briefly suspended for failing to keep standardized tests secure. An investigation found that copies of the ITBS and a state test had been distributed to teachers.</p>
<p>In 2000, two staff members at Carpenter also were accused of ignoring test security protocol. The principal resigned before a hearing seeking to impose a 30-day suspension.</p>
<p>Now, for the first time in Johnson’s memory, the board is seeking to dismiss two teachers suspected of cheating on the ITBS. The alleged incidents occurred at two schools in May.</p>
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answer chicago public schools 1993 1999 happened 2 percent classrooms 3rd 8th grades report economist steven levitt u c doctoral student brian jacob raw numbers thats 700 cases test tampering accounting 10 percent testscore gains period evident cheating appreciable impact citywide results scholars say determining likely level cheating pair sought determine impact two highprofile cps policies tied testing school probation student retention conclusion practice putting lowscoring schools probation increased amount cheating practice holding lowscoring students back data also told levitt jacob cheating orchestrated individual teachers principals analyzed cheating analysis involved database contained response every student 3rd 8th grade every question math reading portions iowa tests basic skills administered spring statistical method levitt jacob developed looks improbable test score gains unusual answer patterns classroom classroom high gains alone may signal good teaching however high gains combined unusual answer patternsfor example students choose wrong answers easy questions correct answers hard questionsconstitutes solid evidence cheating levitt explains u c method even predict chances students answering certain question correctly based past itbs performance levitts view adult cheaters worth pursuing however small numbers potential corrupting influence children dont understand teachers cheat says im saying wouldnt thing shoes still morally reprehensible last spring levitt introduced system deputy chief staff arne duncan subsequently promoted chief executive officer duncan says needs get facts deciding whether adopt system adds hes intrigued idea looking incentives research crime levitt looked whether certain penalties law enforcement practices influenced criminals commit fewer crimes lot work people respond incentives notes two school board policies linked itbs could give school staff incentive cheat believed probation policy imposes sanctions schools perform poorly promotion policy requires lowscoring students repeat grade september 1996 school board put schools probation first time list included schools fewer 15 percent students scored national norms reading itbs failure improve board officials warned could result staff dismissals following spring levitt jacobs found cheating incidents itbs reading test jumped 75 percent nearly increase came schools bottom third system itbs scores classrooms students scored poorly reading previous spring likely evidence cheating cheating math test count towards academic probation increase discovered practice retaining lowscoring students began spring 1996 8thgraders next spring extended 3rd 6thgraders well levitt says think several reasons policy might induce teachers cheat spring test fear looking bad many children retained wanting teach certain students sympathy struggling students face retention came surprise cheating benchmark grades rose slightly relative grade levels promotion policy enacted levitt says seems teachers responding risk school might put probation rather risk students sent summer school teachers rather administrators appear primary cheating culprits levitt jacobs say administrator responsible reason cheating would appear many classrooms school found cheating occurred turned classrooms typically one teachers get scared says one new language arts teacher recently left school believes colleagues cheated itbs lot us arent tenured lot us arent even assigned principal walk classroom say okay im opening position new teachers district hired fulltime basis substitutes ftbs unlike tenured regularly assigned teachers fired principals whim reason new teachers feel tremendous pressure post high test score gains according veteran teacher clinton elementary west ridge believes ftb responsible cheating incident school may channel 7 news reported clinton one eight schools investigated cheating itbs teacher clinton allegedly obtained copy math itbs ahead time used practice students schools identified broadcast board officials declined name board safeguards prevent cheating itbs board long required schools follow list test security procedures instance tests answer sheets must kept locked storage except test administration teachers grades 4 8 may administer test students although may present testing procedures circumvented teachers report one teacher elementary school recently got probation says although cheated opportunity theres undercover sneaky way explains ask child really read thator point answer teachers school cheat believes teacher aides proctor itbs school joke cheating dont report says dont snitch another teacher says elementary school investigated cheating last year believes colleagues teamed ill cheat cheat think thats work spring tests completed scanned office accountability computer analysis search suspicious results first looks score gains classroom classroom typical classroom would show years growth previous years scores classrooms students gained average two years would merit closer look according assessment director joseph hahn involves itembyitem analysis classrooms suspicion along random sample classrooms retested may board retests audits 120 classes 100 schools spring mostly benchmark grades audit intended deterrent cheating well method detecting proving cheating another matter one students rarely score well retest initial examination according chief accountability officer philip hansen retest doesnt count theres less incentive well sometimes students uncomfortable school board staff arrive retest says kids get upset get nervous get mad sometimes innocent teachers caught auditing net school staff get angry example hansen says principal wrote irate letter recently complaining one teachers audited three years row year audit validated high gains hansen says principal wanted know board didnt come congratulate teacher instead wrote mea culpa apologized says classrooms extreme differences test score results audit investigated closely hansen says involves laborious timeconsuming process comparing consistently student answered similar test items two tests student answer sheets also examined erasure marks 90 percent responses switched wrong answer right one says hansen thats sign cheating schools investigated schools suspected cheating referred investigative team office schools regions conducts interviews school site past two school years team sought evidence cheating 15 schools according investigations director thomas sherry substantiated allegations several investigations proved inconclusive says ongoing difficult conclusively prove test cheating explains marilyn johnson boards chief attorney usually requires eyewitness johnson recall two incidents cps staff disciplined connection cheating investigation 1996 principal curriculum coordinator clay elementary hegewisch briefly suspended failing keep standardized tests secure investigation found copies itbs state test distributed teachers 2000 two staff members carpenter also accused ignoring test security protocol principal resigned hearing seeking impose 30day suspension first time johnsons memory board seeking dismiss two teachers suspected cheating itbs alleged incidents occurred two schools may
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<p>Where did that farm water go? That’s a major question stalking California during its record drought.</p>
<p>The finger-pointing sure is under way. On Feb. 4, <a href="" type="external">environmental writer&#160;Dan Bacher&#160;</a>pointed at state water managers, claiming they made the California drought worse by taking water from Northern California farms and fish and sending it to Southern California cities.</p>
<p>Bacher claimed 827,000 acre-feet of water was sent to Southern California in 2013, where some of it was consumed by cities and some stored in Castaic Lake and Pyramid Lake, both North of Los Angeles. Bacher’s claim evokes the image of another water grab by Los Angeles almost a century ago and dramatized in the move “ <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinatown_%281974_film%29" type="external">Chinatown</a>.”</p>
<p>However, Bacher is talking about water from the State Water Project that primarily serves Southern cities, not Central Valley farms where the farm drought has hit the hardest.</p>
<p>A finger pointing another direction belongs to <a href="http://farmwaternews.blogspot.com/2014/01/news-articles-and-links-from-january-28.html" type="external">Mike Wade of the California Farm Water Coalition</a>. He insists that more than 800,000-acre feet of federal Central Valley Project water was flushed to the ocean in 2012 to reestablish salmon runs in the San Joaquin River.</p>
<p>Water from the San Joaquin River was allowed to flow to the ocean to comply with the federal Endangered Species Act, a federal court order, and the San Joaquin River Restoration Act of 2009, sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. Wade’s claim evokes images of John Steinbeck’s epic novel,&#160; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grapes_of_Wrath" type="external">The Grapes of Wrath</a>,&#160;where farmers, ironically, escaped from the Oklahoma Dust Bowl to Central California.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_25004172/jan-28-readers-letters-population-growth-is-not" type="external">According to Wade</a>:</p>
<p>“Regarding water use in the state, it is important to remember that in an average year, the people of California commit 48% of our available water for environmental use, while 41% is used for farming, and 11% for California’s municipal and industrial uses.</p>
<p>“The causes of our current shortage are several — most critical is the drier than typical past two years, but we can’t just blame mother nature. We shouldn’t forget our own failure to put away water for leaner times. Just last year we had an opportunity to store up to 815,000 acre feet of water — enough for well over 4 million people, or five cities the size of San Jose. Californians must prepare for drought when water is available or suffer, as we are now, for our lack of action.”&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Among those directly affected, both fishermen and farmers allege the drought is man-made — that reservoirs were emptied before a rare entrenched winter dry spell set in. But there are other views.</p>
<p>Environmental organizations such as the&#160; <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303519404579353242863223558?mod=WSJ_Opinion_MIDDLEThirdBucket" type="external">California branch of The Nature Conservancy</a>&#160;want to point the finger away from the Endangered Species Act and toward nature and a lack of rainfall.&#160;&#160;But a severe drought is natural and must be planned for.</p>
<p>Central Valley Project farm water is co-dependent on:</p>
<p>a) Water releases North of the Delta;</p>
<p>b) Water releases from Shasta Lake and Trinity Lake into the Sacramento River that flow into the Delta;</p>
<p>c) South-of-the-Delta water flowing from the Sierras into the San Joaquin River, which also runs to the Delta.</p>
<p>A 60-mile stretch of the San Joaquin River becomes high and dry in low-rainfall years and wet in high-rainfall years.&#160;&#160; <a href="http://restoresjr.net/background.html" type="external">In 2006, a federal judge ordered</a>&#160;that this sometimes dry reach of the San Joaquin River must be wetted with enough water every year to allow for salmon runs, even if nature never historically permitted uninterrupted flows of water.</p>
<p>This court action resulted in taking water and money from farmers to keep an intermittently dry reach of the river perpetually wet.&#160;&#160;Part of the problem of restoring the San Joaquin River for salmon runs is that engineers have to figure out how to run river water uphill during dry years.&#160;&#160;The only way to do that is to send a massive gusher of water through the river that takes all future storage water with it.</p>
<p>Some water finger-pointing went to court last year.</p>
<p>In May 2013, the&#160;Westlands Water District and the San Luis &amp; Delta-Mendota Water Authority in Eastern San Joaquin Valley <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/27/1212062/-Westlands-Water-District-Files-Lawsuit-Against-Delta-Plan" type="external">sued the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, part of the Department of the Interior,&#160;</a>to stop the release of 109,000 acre-feet of water from Trinity Lake to save salmon for Indian Tribes and sports fishermen. In August 2013, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California briefly issued, then <a href="http://asmdc.org/members/a02/attachments/TrinityAugmentationDecision.pdf" type="external">rescinded</a>, a restraining order on releasing the water. So the water is flowing now.</p>
<p>The&#160; <a href="http://earthjustice.org/news/press/2013/fishermen-defend-increased-trinity-river-flows-to-protect-salmon" type="external">Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association</a>and&#160;the&#160; <a href="http://www.northcoastjournal.com/Blogthing/archives/2013/08/22/let-the-trinity-flow-judge-rules" type="external">Yurok and Hoopla Indian Tribes</a>&#160;responded to the suit. They wished to continue diverting&#160;the water to the Trinity River, which joins the Klamath River and flows to the sea.&#160;Earthjustice, an environmentalist group, <a href="http://earthjustice.org/news/press/2013/fishermen-defend-increased-trinity-river-flows-to-protect-salmon" type="external">announced</a>&#160;on Aug. 13:</p>
<p>“FRESNO, CA&#160;—&#160;The Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, represented by Earthjustice, filed papers today in the U.S. District Court in Fresno defending the planned release of Trinity River water needed to keep salmon alive.</p>
<p>“This action is in response to a lawsuit filed last week by the Westland[s] Water District and others in California’s Central Valley, demanding this water for their future crops,&#160;regardless&#160;of impacts on salmon or coastal fishing communities depending on those salmon runs for their livelihoods.</p>
<p>“The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation water release plan would help prevent another disaster like the Klamath River Fish Kill of 2002. That year very low flows and high temperatures contributed to a massive die-off of adult Chinook salmon that is considered one of the single worst adult fish kills in U.S. history.”</p>
<p>The water districts are are&#160;located in the Eastern Central Valley and provide water from the federal Central Valley Project to 600,000-acres of farms in Fresno and Kings Counties.&#160;</p>
<p>Concerning the release of the water, specifically the storage water behind Trinity Lake Dam, on Aug. 6 the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation issued a&#160; <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/documentShow.cfm?Doc_ID=14583" type="external">“Finding of No Significant Impact”</a>&#160;to the environment.</p>
<p>However, federal law does not require a similar “impact” statement concerning the potential harm done to&#160;farms and small rural towns when their water is diverted just before a drought.</p>
<p>As a result, the Bureau of Reclamation reported it released&#160; <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/newsrelease/detail.cfm?RecordID=42885" type="external">453,000 total acre-feet of water in a dry year in 2013 for fish restoration flows from the Trinity River</a>.</p>
<p>Nature only waited a matter of five months before the drought struck hard. On Jan. 17, 2014,&#160; <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/documentShow.cfm?Doc_ID=14583" type="external">Gov. Jerry Brown declared an official drought emergency</a>&#160;and suspended the California Environmental Quality Act.</p>
<p>Congress’ fingers also were out and pointing.</p>
<p>Some California congressmen from both parties knew that if the Trinity Lake waters were diverted from farms that a drought would harm their constituents.&#160;&#160;That is why the water release <a href="http://blogs.redding.com/bross/archives/2013/08/lamalfa-garamen.html" type="external">was opposed by a bipartisan group</a> of Reps. Doug LaMalfa and Jeff Denham, both Republicans; and John Garamendi and Jim Costa, both Democrats.</p>
<p>On August 2, 2013,&#160;these four Congressmen&#160;sent a letter to&#160; <a href="http://www.acwa.com/sites/default/files/news/endangered-and-invasive-species/2013/08/2013-08-05-ltrjewell-re-trinity-river-late-summer-flow-augmentation-lower-klamath-garamendi-lamalfa-.pdf" type="external">U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell</a>&#160;questioning whether there was an overestimation of the water that needed to be released for fish from Trinity Lake.</p>
<p>Conversely — fingers pointing in another direction — three Northern California Democrats with large environmentalist constituencies <a href="http://www.times-standard.com/editorials/ci_23698708/plea-interior-department-prevent-fish-kill-trinity-klamath" type="external">favored&#160;</a>sending the water to the fish in Northern California. They were Reps. Jared Huffman, Mike Thompson and George Miller.</p>
<p>In rendering his decision to release water from Trinity Lake for the fish,&#160; <a href="http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/08/14/60257.htm" type="external">Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill</a>&#160;warned of the downstream impacts this could have on farmers in the Central Valley.&#160;&#160;But he had to render a decision to uphold an inflexible law, the Endangered Species Act, which&#160; <a href="http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2374509" type="external">preempts state water laws</a>. Put another way, in this case the judge’s fingers were tied because of the ESA.</p>
<p>So, amid all the finger-pointing, where did the farm water go? We’re in the early stages of the drought. But so far some conclusions can be drawn.</p>
<p>About 1,268,000 acre-feet of water combined from Lake Trinity and the San Joaquin Reservoir was spilled for fish restoration in 2012-13, resulting in a massive draw down of storage water that flowed to the ocean instead of being conserved and returned to the natural terrestrial water cycle.</p>
<p>Therein lies a major reason for a shortage of stored water for agriculture going in to a third consecutive year of a dry spell.</p>
<p>Once the reservoirs were drawn down, there could be no relief when the drought landed on Central Valley farms like a plague of Oklahoma Dust Bowl locusts.</p>
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farm water go thats major question stalking california record drought fingerpointing sure way feb 4 environmental writer160dan bacher160pointed state water managers claiming made california drought worse taking water northern california farms fish sending southern california cities bacher claimed 827000 acrefeet water sent southern california 2013 consumed cities stored castaic lake pyramid lake north los angeles bachers claim evokes image another water grab los angeles almost century ago dramatized move chinatown however bacher talking water state water project primarily serves southern cities central valley farms farm drought hit hardest finger pointing another direction belongs mike wade california farm water coalition insists 800000acre feet federal central valley project water flushed ocean 2012 reestablish salmon runs san joaquin river water san joaquin river allowed flow ocean comply federal endangered species act federal court order san joaquin river restoration act 2009 sponsored sen dianne feinstein dcalif wades claim evokes images john steinbecks epic novel160 grapes wrath160where farmers ironically escaped oklahoma dust bowl central california according wade regarding water use state important remember average year people california commit 48 available water environmental use 41 used farming 11 californias municipal industrial uses causes current shortage several critical drier typical past two years cant blame mother nature shouldnt forget failure put away water leaner times last year opportunity store 815000 acre feet water enough well 4 million people five cities size san jose californians must prepare drought water available suffer lack action160160 among directly affected fishermen farmers allege drought manmade reservoirs emptied rare entrenched winter dry spell set views environmental organizations the160 california branch nature conservancy160want point finger away endangered species act toward nature lack rainfall160160but severe drought natural must planned central valley project farm water codependent water releases north delta b water releases shasta lake trinity lake sacramento river flow delta c southofthedelta water flowing sierras san joaquin river also runs delta 60mile stretch san joaquin river becomes high dry lowrainfall years wet highrainfall years160160 2006 federal judge ordered160that sometimes dry reach san joaquin river must wetted enough water every year allow salmon runs even nature never historically permitted uninterrupted flows water court action resulted taking water money farmers keep intermittently dry reach river perpetually wet160160part problem restoring san joaquin river salmon runs engineers figure run river water uphill dry years160160the way send massive gusher water river takes future storage water water fingerpointing went court last year may 2013 the160westlands water district san luis amp deltamendota water authority eastern san joaquin valley sued us bureau reclamation part department interior160to stop release 109000 acrefeet water trinity lake save salmon indian tribes sports fishermen august 2013 us district court eastern district california briefly issued rescinded restraining order releasing water water flowing the160 pacific coast federation fishermens associationand160the160 yurok hoopla indian tribes160responded suit wished continue diverting160the water trinity river joins klamath river flows sea160earthjustice environmentalist group announced160on aug 13 fresno ca160160the pacific coast federation fishermens associations represented earthjustice filed papers today us district court fresno defending planned release trinity river water needed keep salmon alive action response lawsuit filed last week westlands water district others californias central valley demanding water future crops160regardless160of impacts salmon coastal fishing communities depending salmon runs livelihoods us bureau reclamation water release plan would help prevent another disaster like klamath river fish kill 2002 year low flows high temperatures contributed massive dieoff adult chinook salmon considered one single worst adult fish kills us history water districts are160located eastern central valley provide water federal central valley project 600000acres farms fresno kings counties160 concerning release water specifically storage water behind trinity lake dam aug 6 us bureau reclamation issued a160 finding significant impact160to environment however federal law require similar impact statement concerning potential harm done to160farms small rural towns water diverted drought result bureau reclamation reported released160 453000 total acrefeet water dry year 2013 fish restoration flows trinity river nature waited matter five months drought struck hard jan 17 2014160 gov jerry brown declared official drought emergency160and suspended california environmental quality act congress fingers also pointing california congressmen parties knew trinity lake waters diverted farms drought would harm constituents160160that water release opposed bipartisan group reps doug lamalfa jeff denham republicans john garamendi jim costa democrats august 2 2013160these four congressmen160sent letter to160 us secretary interior sally jewell160questioning whether overestimation water needed released fish trinity lake conversely fingers pointing another direction three northern california democrats large environmentalist constituencies favored160sending water fish northern california reps jared huffman mike thompson george miller rendering decision release water trinity lake fish160 judge lawrence j oneill160warned downstream impacts could farmers central valley160160but render decision uphold inflexible law endangered species act which160 preempts state water laws put another way case judges fingers tied esa amid fingerpointing farm water go early stages drought far conclusions drawn 1268000 acrefeet water combined lake trinity san joaquin reservoir spilled fish restoration 201213 resulting massive draw storage water flowed ocean instead conserved returned natural terrestrial water cycle therein lies major reason shortage stored water agriculture going third consecutive year dry spell reservoirs drawn could relief drought landed central valley farms like plague oklahoma dust bowl locusts
| 837 |
<p>Editor's note: This weekend President Bill Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton will convene more than 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students from around the world at the Clinton Global Initiative University in Phoeniz, Arizona where attendees will work to address global challenges, including health. Saumya Dave will join the group of young leaders. She is a medical student and writer who traveled with New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof to North and West Africa in 2011 to report on global women's health. As a result of the experience, she founded MoBar, an organization to improve maternal health in the region.&#160;</p>
<p>MOLII, Niger — When I met Miero, I had no idea that she was eight months pregnant.</p>
<p>Unlike the pregnant women I’ve seen in America, Miero’s abdomen was flat and her sharp ribs protruded through her dress. Our conversation was a sharp contrast from the ones I had with women in America. No discussion of prenatal vitamins. No ultrasound dating. No measuring of fundal height. Instead, Miero told me that she hadn’t eaten in one day. Her reason was simple: she gave any available food to her family and counted on having whatever was left.</p>
<p>I was in her village of Molii in Niger because of a trip through Northwest Africa with journalist Nicholas Kristof.</p>
<p>Throughout our journey, we absorbed the stories of many women. I learned about the millet grain, an important food source, and the way women in villages walked to the well every morning to collect water in large buckets.</p>
<p>The women were independent in a way I hadn’t seen in America, occasionally relying on one another if they needed to, but for the most part, embracing all of the responsibilities placed on them. In every community I saw an underlying theme: women were taking care of their families and it was often at the expense of their own well-being.</p>
<p>Miero and I sat across from one another while two translators helped us communicate.</p>
<p>“Who helps you when you are ready to have a baby?” I asked.</p>
<p>She explained that there was just one woman in the village who gave prenatal advice and helped deliver babies. This woman did not have medical training but everyone trusted her and that was enough.</p>
<p>I later learned that this was common in many villages and that in most cases, women preferred this over care from a stranger, even if the stranger was a physician or trained midwife.</p>
<p>When Miero and I said goodbye, I reached into my bag and handed her a protein bar. She broke it in half and offered me the bigger piece. A few minutes later, I made my way towards our Jeep but knew that a part of me was going to stay there, somewhere amidst the solar powered huts and straw mats. I wondered if there was a way to change the stories of women like Miero.</p>
<p>Before the trip, I had read about the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. The third goal is to promote gender equality and empower women. The fifth goal is to improve maternal health. Though it is beneficial to send food and supplies to communities in need, it is also important to understand the value of personal relationships in order to implement effective, long-term solutions.</p>
<p>Both Miero and her baby were at risk because of her lack of food.</p>
<p>Pregnancy increases the nutritional demands on a woman’s body and iron, folic acid, protein, calcium, and additional nutrients are required in larger quantities to provide both the mother and baby with adequate nourishment.</p>
<p>Deficiency of any of these leads to dire outcomes. For example, low iron levels can lead to anemia and hemorrhage, the latter of which is the leading cause of maternal mortality in Africa.</p>
<p>According to The World Bank, Niger has approximately 600 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births. By comparison, war-torn Iraq has 60 while the United States has 20.</p>
<p>After I left Niger, I wrote about Miero’s story. While I have always relished the way writing allows me to capture the world for others, something about Miero demanded to be taken beyond the page. In that wide rift between awareness and action, there was potential to integrate both.</p>
<p>I eventually came up with MoBar, an organization I am developing a Clinton Global Initiative University Commitment to Action that will teach women how to make and sell nutritional bars.</p>
<p>The bars will contain non-perishable items such as almonds, dates, fennel, and corn cereal with nutrients aimed at filling maternal deficiencies. Since women within the community will be making the bars themselves, there is an increased chance that women like Miero will trust the product and consume the bars.</p>
<p>In addition to maternal health benefits, MoBar will also empower women.</p>
<p>Microfinance organizations like Kiva have demonstrated that women who are given the opportunity to create enterprises have better health and economic outcomes. These women are less likely to become involved in child marriages and be victims of domestic violence.</p>
<p>As a future physician, I want to alleviate the burdens of every patient I meet. However, for each patient I encounter, there will be thousands more that I won’t be able to access. A self-sustaining enterprise allows women to help each other, and as a result, help their communities. MoBar will change women’s stories by improving maternal health, empowering women, and fostering their relationships.</p>
<p>Saumya Dave is a medical student at Georgia Regents University and participant in <a href="http://www.cgiu.org" type="external">Clinton Global Initiative University 2014</a>, whose writing has been featured in The New York Times, Lancet, British Medical Journal, India Abroad, and The Feminist Wire. &#160;</p>
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editors note weekend president bill clinton hillary rodham clinton chelsea clinton convene 1000 undergraduate graduate students around world clinton global initiative university phoeniz arizona attendees work address global challenges including health saumya dave join group young leaders medical student writer traveled new york times columnist nicholas kristof north west africa 2011 report global womens health result experience founded mobar organization improve maternal health region160 molii niger met miero idea eight months pregnant unlike pregnant women ive seen america mieros abdomen flat sharp ribs protruded dress conversation sharp contrast ones women america discussion prenatal vitamins ultrasound dating measuring fundal height instead miero told hadnt eaten one day reason simple gave available food family counted whatever left village molii niger trip northwest africa journalist nicholas kristof throughout journey absorbed stories many women learned millet grain important food source way women villages walked well every morning collect water large buckets women independent way hadnt seen america occasionally relying one another needed part embracing responsibilities placed every community saw underlying theme women taking care families often expense wellbeing miero sat across one another two translators helped us communicate helps ready baby asked explained one woman village gave prenatal advice helped deliver babies woman medical training everyone trusted enough later learned common many villages cases women preferred care stranger even stranger physician trained midwife miero said goodbye reached bag handed protein bar broke half offered bigger piece minutes later made way towards jeep knew part going stay somewhere amidst solar powered huts straw mats wondered way change stories women like miero trip read united nations millennium development goals third goal promote gender equality empower women fifth goal improve maternal health though beneficial send food supplies communities need also important understand value personal relationships order implement effective longterm solutions miero baby risk lack food pregnancy increases nutritional demands womans body iron folic acid protein calcium additional nutrients required larger quantities provide mother baby adequate nourishment deficiency leads dire outcomes example low iron levels lead anemia hemorrhage latter leading cause maternal mortality africa according world bank niger approximately 600 maternal deaths every 100000 live births comparison wartorn iraq 60 united states 20 left niger wrote mieros story always relished way writing allows capture world others something miero demanded taken beyond page wide rift awareness action potential integrate eventually came mobar organization developing clinton global initiative university commitment action teach women make sell nutritional bars bars contain nonperishable items almonds dates fennel corn cereal nutrients aimed filling maternal deficiencies since women within community making bars increased chance women like miero trust product consume bars addition maternal health benefits mobar also empower women microfinance organizations like kiva demonstrated women given opportunity create enterprises better health economic outcomes women less likely become involved child marriages victims domestic violence future physician want alleviate burdens every patient meet however patient encounter thousands wont able access selfsustaining enterprise allows women help result help communities mobar change womens stories improving maternal health empowering women fostering relationships saumya dave medical student georgia regents university participant clinton global initiative university 2014 whose writing featured new york times lancet british medical journal india abroad feminist wire 160
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<p>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he will support a pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, according to a telephone briefing by the White House for Republican congressional staff members. His remarks could move negotiations on an immigration deal that is stalled in Congress but Democrats have signaled that his proposal is a non-starter.</p>
<p>The call, hosted by White House adviser Stephen Miller, outlined the demands for any deal on DACA, which <a href="" type="internal">includes a $25 billion "trust fund" for a border wall</a>, an end to family reunification, also called "chain migration" by conservatives, and an end to the diversity visa lottery.</p>
<p>But in a more detailed outline of the proposal released by the White House later on Thursday, it calls for a massive increase in border security and a massive decrease in legal immigration by aiming to "protect the nuclear family migration" by only allowing family immigration sponsorships to include spouses or children, rather than extended family members.</p>
<p>In addition to $25 billion in border security, it would appropriate funds to add new enforcement officers, immigration judges and prosecutors - efforts to more quickly deport people who are in the country without legal papers.</p>
<p>The path to citizenship would be provided to DACA recipients via a "10-12 year path" that includes "requirements for work, education and good moral character."</p>
<p>A path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants known as Dreamers is a significant concession for Democrats, <a href="" type="internal">most of whom say they will not support any deal that does not provide for citizenship</a>. It's similar to a bipartisan proposal by Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., also includes a path to citizenship for Dreamers.</p>
<p>But Democrats say that the massive increase in border security, elimination of most family migration and the end to the diversity visa lottery is a lopsided deal.</p>
<p>"Dreamers should not be held hostage to President Trump's crusade to tear families apart and waste billions of American tax dollars on an ineffective wall," Durbin said in a statement. "This plan would put the administration's entire hard-line immigration agenda — including massive cuts to legal immigration — on the backs of these young people."</p>
<p>Trump told reporters Wednesday night before leaving for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that he'd support legalization that would "morph" into citizenship.</p>
<p>Many on Capitol Hill have been waiting for specifics from the president on what he wants to see in an immigration bill. He has expressed requirements in line with conservative principles while also signaling his openness to a more lenient plan, confusing the topic for lawmakers attempting to draft legislation.</p>
<p>“We’re grateful for the president showing leadership on this issue, and believe his ideas will help us ultimately reach a balanced solution,” Michael Ricci, a spokesman for House Speaker Paul Ryan, told NBC News.</p>
<p>Some Republicans, especially those with more hard-line views on immigration, praised the plan.</p>
<p>"The president's framework is generous and humane, while also being responsible," Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said.</p>
<p>Immigration activists, however, blasted the plan for ending family reunification, and vowed to oppose it.</p>
<p>"They think that by offering up a spoonful of sugar — relief for Dreamers — they can get Congress and the American people to swallow the bitter medicine of radical nativism," Frank Sharry, founder of America's Voice, an immigration rights group. "We are going to fight this tooth and nail."</p>
<p>United We Dream Advocacy Director Greisa Martínez Rosas, who would be a DACA beneficiary, went further in a statement.</p>
<p>"Let's call this proposal for what it is: a white supremacist ransom note," she said. "Trump and Stephen Miller killed DACA and created the crisis that immigrant youths are facing. They have taken immigrant youth hostage, pitting us against our own parents, Black immigrants and our communities in exchange for our dignity."</p>
<p>The ACLU also did not pull any punches, saying that "the only community that benefits from this supposed generosity are white supremacists."</p>
<p>The nonprofit advocacy organizationadded that the "proposal is clearly an effort to sabotage bipartisan talks on the issue by continuing to put issues on the table that are non-starters."</p>
<p>Rep. Luis Gutiérrez, D-Ill., chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force, <a href="https://twitter.com/RepGutierrez/status/956657320343277571" type="external">said in a tweet that Trump's proposal</a> didn't "pass the laugh test."</p>
<p>And Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M., excoriated the bill in a statement.</p>
<p>“We cannot allow the lives of young people who have done everything right to be used as bargaining chips for sweeping anti-immigrant policies," she said. "The White House is using Dreamers to mask their underlying xenophobic, isolationist, and un-American policies, which will harm millions of immigrants living in the United States and millions of others who want to legally immigrate and contribute to our country."</p>
<p>Meanwhile, other Democrats in the House and Senate — as well as liberal advocates — shared their continued displeasure with Trump's proposal on social media.</p>
<p>Democrats shut down the government over the issue of immigration for three days, demanding progress on the issue of protecting Dreamers. Trump, who announced he was ending the Obama-era DACA program in September, gave Congress until March 5 to find a legislative solution for the people who were brought to the U.S. as young children by their parents and whose legal status remains in limbo.</p>
<p>To end the government shutdown, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell promised to take up DACA if no deal is reached between the White House, the Senate and the House before February 8, which is when the next government funding bill runs out.</p>
<p>In a statement Thursday, McConnell thanked Trump for putting forth the framework.</p>
<p>"I am hopeful that as discussions continue in the Senate on the subject of immigration, Members on both sides of the aisle will look to this framework for guidance as they work towards an agreement,” he said.</p>
<p>A White House official told reporters that they would like to see their proposal, which is likely to be more conservative than anything the Senate would devise, brought up the week of February 5, just days before the funding deadline.</p>
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washington president donald trump said support pathway citizenship 18 million undocumented immigrants came us children according telephone briefing white house republican congressional staff members remarks could move negotiations immigration deal stalled congress democrats signaled proposal nonstarter call hosted white house adviser stephen miller outlined demands deal daca includes 25 billion trust fund border wall end family reunification also called chain migration conservatives end diversity visa lottery detailed outline proposal released white house later thursday calls massive increase border security massive decrease legal immigration aiming protect nuclear family migration allowing family immigration sponsorships include spouses children rather extended family members addition 25 billion border security would appropriate funds add new enforcement officers immigration judges prosecutors efforts quickly deport people country without legal papers path citizenship would provided daca recipients via 1012 year path includes requirements work education good moral character path citizenship undocumented immigrants known dreamers significant concession democrats say support deal provide citizenship similar bipartisan proposal sens lindsey graham rsc dick durbin dill also includes path citizenship dreamers democrats say massive increase border security elimination family migration end diversity visa lottery lopsided deal dreamers held hostage president trumps crusade tear families apart waste billions american tax dollars ineffective wall durbin said statement plan would put administrations entire hardline immigration agenda including massive cuts legal immigration backs young people trump told reporters wednesday night leaving world economic forum davos switzerland hed support legalization would morph citizenship many capitol hill waiting specifics president wants see immigration bill expressed requirements line conservative principles also signaling openness lenient plan confusing topic lawmakers attempting draft legislation grateful president showing leadership issue believe ideas help us ultimately reach balanced solution michael ricci spokesman house speaker paul ryan told nbc news republicans especially hardline views immigration praised plan presidents framework generous humane also responsible sen tom cotton rark said immigration activists however blasted plan ending family reunification vowed oppose think offering spoonful sugar relief dreamers get congress american people swallow bitter medicine radical nativism frank sharry founder americas voice immigration rights group going fight tooth nail united dream advocacy director greisa martínez rosas would daca beneficiary went statement lets call proposal white supremacist ransom note said trump stephen miller killed daca created crisis immigrant youths facing taken immigrant youth hostage pitting us parents black immigrants communities exchange dignity aclu also pull punches saying community benefits supposed generosity white supremacists nonprofit advocacy organizationadded proposal clearly effort sabotage bipartisan talks issue continuing put issues table nonstarters rep luis gutiérrez dill chair congressional hispanic caucus immigration task force said tweet trumps proposal didnt pass laugh test congressional hispanic caucus chair michelle lujan grisham dnm excoriated bill statement allow lives young people done everything right used bargaining chips sweeping antiimmigrant policies said white house using dreamers mask underlying xenophobic isolationist unamerican policies harm millions immigrants living united states millions others want legally immigrate contribute country meanwhile democrats house senate well liberal advocates shared continued displeasure trumps proposal social media democrats shut government issue immigration three days demanding progress issue protecting dreamers trump announced ending obamaera daca program september gave congress march 5 find legislative solution people brought us young children parents whose legal status remains limbo end government shutdown senate majority leader mitch mcconnell promised take daca deal reached white house senate house february 8 next government funding bill runs statement thursday mcconnell thanked trump putting forth framework hopeful discussions continue senate subject immigration members sides aisle look framework guidance work towards agreement said white house official told reporters would like see proposal likely conservative anything senate would devise brought week february 5 days funding deadline
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<p>NABLUS, West Bank — Black flags and palm fronds, symbols of Islamic mourning, rattled against the rusty oil drum where they stood, rustling in the hot wind over the rooftops of the Nablus casbah.</p>
<p>In the Jumayel home, the men sat under a black canopy, chain-smoking, tense and quiet. I found the dead man’s brother, drank the mourner’s bitter coffee, and asked him to tell me a story that would change everything I had thought I knew about the Palestinians.</p>
<p>Under the black tarp, Amin Jumayel shuffled through a stack of photos of his brother’s naked corpse, everywhere bruised purple. Not, as you might expect, dead at the hands of Israeli soldiers. Rather, tortured to death&#160;by Palestinian policemen&#160;in the prison just along the valley.</p>
<p>“The responsibility for my brother’s death lies with the Palestinian Authority,” Amin mumbled. “We have no democracy. Everyone’s frightened.”</p>
<p>I came to the Middle East back in 1996 as a journalist to write what I believed would be the story of peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Most foreign correspondents did just that. But not me. I had an advantage, something that spelled out for me the complexity, the corruption of the West Bank. I knew Nablus.</p>
<p>I reported how the peace process degenerated into the all-out warfare of the intifada, and I’ve watched the Palestinian civil war plunge seamlessly into the Israeli onslaught against Gaza this year. I’ve seen men fight, surveyed their dismembered bodies in the street and in the morgues.</p>
<p>But I’ve always returned to that conversation with Amin Jumayel — my first visit to the West Bank — as the instant when I saw what really was happening here. The line connecting that solitary death in the Nablus prison 13 years ago with the mess in which the Palestinians find themselves today runs through Nablus.</p>
<p>"The Samaritan’s Secret," the third book in my Palestinian detective series, uses the real events <a href="http://www.mattbeynonrees.com/ss_slideshow.htm" type="external">I’ve covered in Nablus as a reporter</a>.</p>
<p>The novel is based on the facts gathered on the ground.&#160; I wove that traditional reporting into my own fiction to develop a theory of what might have happened to the hundreds of millions of dollars in aid money salted away by Yasser Arafat. It also examines the battle between the Hamas and Fatah factions contending for control of the city’s ancient casbah. Most of all it’s my homage to the wonderful people I’ve met in desperate circumstances in Nablus and to the Palestinian city I love above all others for the historic sense of mystery I find in its ancient alleys.</p>
<p>The pyrotechnic struggle between violence and democracy seems to catch the headlines most when it occurs in Gaza. Foreign journalists also like to write about Ramallah, because it’s close to their offices in Jerusalem. But Nablus? Many Americans haven’t heard of the place. Yet historically it was more important than Gaza or even Jerusalem, sitting in a pass on the trade routes to the East.</p>
<p>Until the intifada blew it apart, Nablus was the most important center of commerce for the Palestinians, manufacturing soap and halva. It was famous for a dessert of goat’s cheese baked with syrupy shredded wheat called qanafi.</p>
<p>Now it’s known mainly&#160;for masked militants, corruption and murder.</p>
<p>That makes it the perfect place to understand what’s really happening to the Palestinians — and, unfortunately for the people of Nablus, the ideal setting for a crime novel.</p>
<p>I wrote "The Samaritan’s Secret" because I wanted to expose the corruption of Palestinian political and military leaders. That’s not because I’m anti-Palestinian. It’s because I’ve heard so many ordinary Palestinians over the years complain about the people who govern them. You rarely hear what these people have to say. Their media is tightly controlled and fearful. Speak up on the street and at best they’d get a dreadful beating. Though I’ve written occasional articles about them, I hope my novel will give them a true and lasting voice.</p>
<p>How bad was the corruption these people lived with? In real terms the Palestinians have frittered away more money than Germany received to rebuild after World War II under the Marshall Plan — $4 billion in little more than a decade. Arafat skimmed off $1 billion-plus to secret accounts (U.S. State Department-backed auditors later recovered $800 million) and 65 percent of the budget went to a dozen militias designated as official “security forces.” Even if Israel hadn’t occasionally destroyed Palestinian infrastructure with its tanks and F16s, there’d still be little to show for all that cash.</p>
<p>The result: everybody hated the regime and followed extreme alternatives. At a funeral for two Hamas leaders killed by an Israeli missile in 2001, I noticed that the biggest contingent among the marchers brandished the yellow flag of Hezbollah along with their M-16s. Hamas garnered tremendous support by paying for a dozen weddings at a big ceremony I reproduced in my novel, where the grooms rode in on white Arabian stallions.</p>
<p>In the end, however, it wasn’t the noisy moments of strife or celebration that struck me most about Nablus. In the oldest neighborhood of the casbah, off a vaulted junction of four alleys where the smell of damp mingles with the cardamom scent in the corner spice shop, I often visit the Abdel Hadi Palace. Once the home of a wealthy family, it’s populated now by poor refugees. The 200-year-old palace is decrepit and stinks of sewage. Every time I stop by, there seems to be a shoeless child playing in the mud of the courtyard.</p>
<p>I once pointed out the irony of his home’s former glory to a young refugee there. “It’s not a palace anymore,” he said. “They don’t let people like us live in a palace.” &#160; They. The mysterious, unnameable figures who wield authority, who possess money and the power over life and death. I made them into the bad guys of my novel. And they’re real.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories/090213/the-samaritans-secret-part-2" type="external">The Samaritan's Secret Part 2:&#160;How the Samaritans straddle the Israelis and the Palestinians</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/israel-and-the-palestinian-territories/090213/the-samaritans-secret-part-3" type="external">The Samaritan's Secret Part 3:&#160;How Palestinians videotape evidence</a> (Matt Beynon Rees’s latest Palestinian crime novel "The Samaritan’s Secret" was published Feb. 1 by Soho Press.)</p>
<p />
<p>&#160;</p>
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nablus west bank black flags palm fronds symbols islamic mourning rattled rusty oil drum stood rustling hot wind rooftops nablus casbah jumayel home men sat black canopy chainsmoking tense quiet found dead mans brother drank mourners bitter coffee asked tell story would change everything thought knew palestinians black tarp amin jumayel shuffled stack photos brothers naked corpse everywhere bruised purple might expect dead hands israeli soldiers rather tortured death160by palestinian policemen160in prison along valley responsibility brothers death lies palestinian authority amin mumbled democracy everyones frightened came middle east back 1996 journalist write believed would story peace israel palestinians foreign correspondents advantage something spelled complexity corruption west bank knew nablus reported peace process degenerated allout warfare intifada ive watched palestinian civil war plunge seamlessly israeli onslaught gaza year ive seen men fight surveyed dismembered bodies street morgues ive always returned conversation amin jumayel first visit west bank instant saw really happening line connecting solitary death nablus prison 13 years ago mess palestinians find today runs nablus samaritans secret third book palestinian detective series uses real events ive covered nablus reporter novel based facts gathered ground160 wove traditional reporting fiction develop theory might happened hundreds millions dollars aid money salted away yasser arafat also examines battle hamas fatah factions contending control citys ancient casbah homage wonderful people ive met desperate circumstances nablus palestinian city love others historic sense mystery find ancient alleys pyrotechnic struggle violence democracy seems catch headlines occurs gaza foreign journalists also like write ramallah close offices jerusalem nablus many americans havent heard place yet historically important gaza even jerusalem sitting pass trade routes east intifada blew apart nablus important center commerce palestinians manufacturing soap halva famous dessert goats cheese baked syrupy shredded wheat called qanafi known mainly160for masked militants corruption murder makes perfect place understand whats really happening palestinians unfortunately people nablus ideal setting crime novel wrote samaritans secret wanted expose corruption palestinian political military leaders thats im antipalestinian ive heard many ordinary palestinians years complain people govern rarely hear people say media tightly controlled fearful speak street best theyd get dreadful beating though ive written occasional articles hope novel give true lasting voice bad corruption people lived real terms palestinians frittered away money germany received rebuild world war ii marshall plan 4 billion little decade arafat skimmed 1 billionplus secret accounts us state departmentbacked auditors later recovered 800 million 65 percent budget went dozen militias designated official security forces even israel hadnt occasionally destroyed palestinian infrastructure tanks f16s thered still little show cash result everybody hated regime followed extreme alternatives funeral two hamas leaders killed israeli missile 2001 noticed biggest contingent among marchers brandished yellow flag hezbollah along m16s hamas garnered tremendous support paying dozen weddings big ceremony reproduced novel grooms rode white arabian stallions end however wasnt noisy moments strife celebration struck nablus oldest neighborhood casbah vaulted junction four alleys smell damp mingles cardamom scent corner spice shop often visit abdel hadi palace home wealthy family populated poor refugees 200yearold palace decrepit stinks sewage every time stop seems shoeless child playing mud courtyard pointed irony homes former glory young refugee palace anymore said dont let people like us live palace 160 mysterious unnameable figures wield authority possess money power life death made bad guys novel theyre real samaritans secret part 2160how samaritans straddle israelis palestinians samaritans secret part 3160how palestinians videotape evidence matt beynon reess latest palestinian crime novel samaritans secret published feb 1 soho press 160
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<p>&#160;</p>
<p>This is Part 2 of a series. <a href="" type="internal">Part 1</a> was on how drought-water pricing violates Proposition 218’s ban on tax increases without a vote of the people.</p>
<p>What is good water pricing during a drought? Let’s look at some situations.</p>
<p>A good place to start is the continuing series on the drought by Caitrin Chappelle and Ellen Hanak of the Public Policy Institute of California. It their Sept. 3 installment, they tout the city of Roseville as an example of good drought pricing:</p>
<p>“The city of Roseville is one community using the drought pricing tool, which was adopted — and vetted with customers — before the drought hit. In June, Roseville implemented a temporary 15 percent drought surcharge while also mandating a 20 percent reduction in water use.”</p>
<p>But&#160;here’s how <a href="http://www.news10.net/story/news/local/roseville/2014/06/02/roseville-introduces-drought-surcharge/9877837/" type="external">Roseville itself justified&#160;</a>increasing water rates:</p>
<p>“With almost three months of declining revenue and increased costs, the water utilities financial reserves are no longer able to cover this deficit. Costs are increasing for many reasons — water is scarcer and more expensive. The drought has also required us to expand our water conservation programs, invest in operation of our back-up groundwater wells, and build new wells as water from Folsom Lake has become much less reliable due to an unprecedented drought.”</p>
<p>In other words, customers were curtailing water use voluntarily at the onset of the drought and water utility revenues dropped below fixed costs. Customers (“the market”) had already reacted by cutting water use.</p>
<p>But public utilities are not allowed to run an operating deficit.&#160; Thus, Roseville appropriately raised water rates to cover their fixed costs, and for drilling new wells, without needing to get voter approval under&#160;Prop.&#160;218. So Roseville’s water rate increase did not use a “drought pricing tool”&#160;to spur conservation, because conservation already was happening.</p>
<p>Many agricultural water districts have been hit hard.&#160;Shouldn’t they impose a “conservation rate”?</p>
<p>Actually, water sales by auctions already adjust for the scarcity of water due to drought. So there is no need to impose water conservation rates on farmers.</p>
<p>During wet years, water auction prices commonly range in the&#160;hundreds of dollars per acre-foot. But during droughts, that typically increases at least tenfold to the range of thousands of dollars per acre-foot.</p>
<p>Once again, the market itself has imposed&#160;“conservation water rates.”</p>
<p>Some farmers have “ <a href="http://aic.ucdavis.edu/events/outlook05/Sawyer_primer.pdf" type="external">senior water rights</a>” and are entitled to deliveries of cheap system water through the State Water Project. Are they overusing water because it is so cheap at the expense of everyone else?&#160; No.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Regulating-Infrastructure-Monopoly-Contracts-Discretion/dp/0674011775/ref=sr_1_26?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1410627996&amp;sr=1-26&amp;keywords=energy+electricity" type="external">Like electricity</a>, farming water commonly is not bid on each day or month on the spot market. Instead, contracts are for years, even decades,&#160;because of the large capital investment needed upfront for land, seeds and farming equipment. Such&#160; <a href="http://www.water.ca.gov/swpao/watercontractextension/" type="external">water contracts</a> are a market mechanism to ensure continued supply at affordable prices.</p>
<p>Hanak mentions in her “ <a href="http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/report/r_1112ehr.pdf" type="external">California Water Markets by the Number – Update 2012</a>” that water markets have evolved from one year contracts to longer-term contracts and trades.&#160; The number of short-term contracts increases during droughts (see Figure 3, Page 19&#160; <a href="http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/report/r_1112ehr.pdf" type="external">here</a>).</p>
<p>So those with locked-in lower water rates by contract in a drought aren’t getting away with anything. If the government violated these contracts to take the water, or force the farmers to pay higher rates, it would be a “taking,” which the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled must be compensated. That would mean taxpayers would pick up the tab. The court affirmed its previous rulings last year in&#160; <a href="http://www.publicceo.com/2013/07/u-s-supreme-court-rules-on-takings-claim-sea-change-in-land-use-regulation-or-business-as-usual/" type="external">Koontz vs. St. Johns River Water Management District</a>.</p>
<p>Moreover, the water contract market is highly developed.</p>
<p>The UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences proposes selling&#160; <a href="https://www.masterresource.org/california-state-energy-issues/california-water-cap-and-trade-1/" type="external">government wholesale water allocated to fish and wildlife refuges back to farmers</a> at duress drought water prices. But that’s fraught with double-payment problems because farmers have already paid for the water once to maintain California’s Central Valley Project.</p>
<p>Such sales would not reflect fair market pricing and are probably illegal under the eminent domain <a href="https://www.masterresource.org/california-state-energy-issues/california-water-cap-and-trade-1/" type="external">“project influence rule.”</a>&#160;That rule says you can’t take water from farmers for a public project to protect fish, create an artificial scarcity, then charge farmers the higher scarcity price in a drought.</p>
<p>The above solutions&#160;are “demand-side solutions” to drought: they reduce the use of water.</p>
<p>But what about “supply-side solutions,” that increase the supply of water? As reported earlier on CalWatchdog.com, such solutions are being pursued&#160;by the <a href="" type="internal">city of San Antonio,</a>Tex.,&#160;and by <a href="" type="internal">Cadiz, Inc</a>. in California.</p>
<p>The big benefit of supply-side solutions is that they don’t take water from one use and give it to another. Rather, they develop water for new uses, reducing legal and regulatory entanglements.</p>
<p>Drought-water pricing advocates largely are&#160;experts in academia and think tanks. Yet the reality in the pipes, so to speak, is what goes on in the water contract market and with established law.</p>
<p>Our system of government requires the rule of law and the consent of the governed, which is missing in calls to increase water rates to curtail usage of water.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Wayne Lusvardi worked for 20 years for one of California’s largest water agencies as Chief Real Estate Appraiser in the valuation, leasing and management of land with water rights, including the <a href="http://www.mwdh2o.com/aqueduct/summer_06/article_05_01.html" type="external">Palo Verde Irrigation District land fallowing program</a>.</p>
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160 part 2 series part 1 droughtwater pricing violates proposition 218s ban tax increases without vote people good water pricing drought lets look situations good place start continuing series drought caitrin chappelle ellen hanak public policy institute california sept 3 installment tout city roseville example good drought pricing city roseville one community using drought pricing tool adopted vetted customers drought hit june roseville implemented temporary 15 percent drought surcharge also mandating 20 percent reduction water use but160heres roseville justified160increasing water rates almost three months declining revenue increased costs water utilities financial reserves longer able cover deficit costs increasing many reasons water scarcer expensive drought also required us expand water conservation programs invest operation backup groundwater wells build new wells water folsom lake become much less reliable due unprecedented drought words customers curtailing water use voluntarily onset drought water utility revenues dropped fixed costs customers market already reacted cutting water use public utilities allowed run operating deficit160 thus roseville appropriately raised water rates cover fixed costs drilling new wells without needing get voter approval under160prop160218 rosevilles water rate increase use drought pricing tool160to spur conservation conservation already happening many agricultural water districts hit hard160shouldnt impose conservation rate actually water sales auctions already adjust scarcity water due drought need impose water conservation rates farmers wet years water auction prices commonly range the160hundreds dollars per acrefoot droughts typically increases least tenfold range thousands dollars per acrefoot market imposed160conservation water rates farmers senior water rights entitled deliveries cheap system water state water project overusing water cheap expense everyone else160 like electricity farming water commonly bid day month spot market instead contracts years even decades160because large capital investment needed upfront land seeds farming equipment such160 water contracts market mechanism ensure continued supply affordable prices hanak mentions california water markets number update 2012 water markets evolved one year contracts longerterm contracts trades160 number shortterm contracts increases droughts see figure 3 page 19160 lockedin lower water rates contract drought arent getting away anything government violated contracts take water force farmers pay higher rates would taking us supreme court ruled must compensated would mean taxpayers would pick tab court affirmed previous rulings last year in160 koontz vs st johns river water management district moreover water contract market highly developed uc davis center watershed sciences proposes selling160 government wholesale water allocated fish wildlife refuges back farmers duress drought water prices thats fraught doublepayment problems farmers already paid water maintain californias central valley project sales would reflect fair market pricing probably illegal eminent domain project influence rule160that rule says cant take water farmers public project protect fish create artificial scarcity charge farmers higher scarcity price drought solutions160are demandside solutions drought reduce use water supplyside solutions increase supply water reported earlier calwatchdogcom solutions pursued160by city san antoniotex160and cadiz inc california big benefit supplyside solutions dont take water one use give another rather develop water new uses reducing legal regulatory entanglements droughtwater pricing advocates largely are160experts academia think tanks yet reality pipes speak goes water contract market established law system government requires rule law consent governed missing calls increase water rates curtail usage water 160 wayne lusvardi worked 20 years one californias largest water agencies chief real estate appraiser valuation leasing management land water rights including palo verde irrigation district land fallowing program
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<p>Last week, Catalyst Chicago held a roundtable discussion with a handful of CPS principals to gauge their thoughts on issues that the public usually doesn’t hear them talk about, but that have a significant impact on how well they can do their jobs as school leaders. Catalyst talked with four principals about new, state-mandated evaluations; managing budgets; principal training; and principals’ ability to speak their minds without fear of reprimand from the administration.</p>
<p />
<p>The idea for the conversation emerged after Blaine Elementary School’s principal, Troy LaRaviere, wrote about a top-down culture of suppression in CPS in a <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/opinions/letters/27339293-474/under-emanuel-principals-have-no-voice.html" type="external">much-circulated op-ed</a> in the Chicago Sun-Times.&#160;Other principals quickly followed suit, including Peterson Elementary School’s Adam Parrott-Sheffer, who wrote <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2014/05/how-cps-turns-promising-ideas-harmful-practice/" type="external">his own op-ed for Catalyst</a>about how CPS turns good ideas into bad ones by not listening to those on the ground.&#160;</p>
<p>So we invited LaRaviere, Parrott-Sheffer and a dozen other principals to a panel discussion at our offices on June 5. Several expressed interest, but only four – including three vocal critics of CPS policy — participated: LaRaviere, Parrott-Sheffer, who both lead high-ranking schools in the North Side; Deidrus Brown from the soon-to-be turned around Gresham Elementary School on the South Side; and Chad Adams, a first-year principal at Sullivan High School, a North Side School on academic probation.</p>
<p>Unlike most CPS principals, all four of the participants were very familiar with the media spotlight. Brown has declared an <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/26698730-418/gresham-elementary-principal-fights-cps-school-turnaround-plan.html" type="external">all-out war against CPS</a>for the action against her school, and Adams was featured in This American Life’s much-lauded <a href="http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/487/harper-high-school-part-one" type="external">Harper High School radio documentary</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>Because of the length of the discussion – about 90 minutes – we divided the transcript into four parts and edited it for clarity. Today, we begin the series with a general conversation about the mood among principals and where they go from here. On Wednesday, we’ll continue with a discussion about principal training and the&#160; <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2013/07/20-million-no-bid-contract-raises-questions-about-supes-academy/" type="external">controversial program, SUPES Academy</a>.&#160;Thursday’s discussion will focus on principal and teacher evaluations. We will wrap up on Friday with a conversation about budget matters.</p>
<p>Catalyst Chicago: How are principals feeling these days?</p>
<p>Deidrus Brown: There’s a lot of melancholy, because of the [hope] that principals would be somewhat autonomous in making decisions as to what’s best for their students, teachers, parents and community. And that is really not the case. You’re told to do something and you have to do it that way. I am not a puppet. I didn’t go to school and get four college degrees to be a puppet. I want to be valued, or at least be heard. I want to sit at the table and discuss what is best for the students and the staff. That’s where my frustration comes from. Decisions are being made by individuals who do not really know about the school.</p>
<p>Adam Parrott-Sheffer: I just laugh, and I remember when [former CEO] Jean-Claude [Brizard] first started and his big thing was this idea of “bounded autonomy.” We get a lot of the bounded. I’m not really sure I know what the pieces are that are autonomous. You go back to the first day of school and they were passing out checklists to district chiefs — $150,000-plus a year employees – who were supposed to go to schools to check on things like, ‘Are your bathrooms clean enough?’ It read more like the checklist for running a Hardee’s than it did for running a school.</p>
<p>Catalyst: What has been the reaction to the op-eds? Do you, as principals, feel like you now have permission to speak publicly, as CPS CEO <a href="http://politics.suntimes.com/article/chicago/three-more-principals-join-colleagues-blast-mayors-office/mon-05122014-233pm" type="external">Barbara Byrd-Bennett</a>&#160;and Mayor <a href="http://politics.suntimes.com/article/chicago/rahm-emanuel-says-he-welcomes-principals%E2%80%99-concerns-ideas/thu-05152014-537am" type="external">Rahm Emanuel</a> have both publicly said they welcome principals’ input?&#160;</p>
<p>Troy LaRaviere: Teachers and principals have told me that they were so grateful for that article, which has allowed for a conversation that would never have been possible in the environment that existed before it was released. Barbara Byrd-Bennett called me and asked if I’d had any negative experience with her office. And I told her this wasn’t about her. The things that are coming out of CPS aren’t coming out of her office. Frankly, they don’t even come from the mayor’s office. This is a national and international movement to privatize education and to create the excuse for it by destabilizing neighborhood schools, and our mayor is just one of many public officials across the nation who has bought into this effort.</p>
<p>Chad Adams: I guess I’ve never felt a fear to speak out, or maybe it’s just my personality. I say what I mean and I mean what I say. I have a little bit of a different perspective than these [colleagues]. I’m a new principal. I’m a first-year principal. So I only know what I know from what’s happened now. My question would be: what organization that is as big as CPS wouldn’t have some sort of parameters in place for talking to the press? Do you think Microsoft wouldn’t have some sort of protocols to follow? What about United Way?</p>
<p>LaRaviere: This is the City of Chicago, run by an elected official and his appointed Board of Education. [CPS is] a public institution that spends public tax dollars. The United Way does not spend public tax dollars. Microsoft does not spend public tax dollars. We do not elect Bill Gates. We elect Rahm Emanuel. He appoints Barbara Byrd-Bennett and as residents of the City of Chicago, we absolutely must hold them accountable, and any question to me that hints at some idea that we should not then begins to hint at the idea that we should stop calling ourselves a democracy.&#160; Principals should go up to their 8th-grade classrooms, where they’re teaching the Constitution, and tell them that it’s not real. For clarity, if you say you’re speaking for the Board of Education or CPS, then of course you should check in. You can’t assume you’re speaking for CPS. I’m not speaking for the board. I’m speaking as a resident who knows what board policy is and who is a principal.</p>
<p>Parrott-Sheffer: We have local school councils, so technically I’m appointed by an LSC which is also an elected body. It’s more complicated than “what protocols are in place.” Those protocols need to reflect the fact that at some level I’m also appointed by an elected body and I report to the body in a public forum. And I think you lose credibility when you’re only able to engage in the positive news, the fluff pieces, the let’s-feel-good pieces. If we really want these schools to be good, and we really believe that, there are some difficult conversations we need to have as a city, and we need to have many voices that are a part of that.</p>
<p>Catalyst: What has been your relationship with the Chicago Principals &amp; Administrators Association (CPAA)? Have they been a voice for you?</p>
<p>Brown: I’ve received no support from them [since the announcement of the turnaround]. No phone calls. I’ve been a paying member of CPAA ever since I was a principal, a decade, so I would have thought someone would reach out. I’ve gotten lots of support from the Chicago Teachers Union.</p>
<p>Catalyst: We’ve heard there’s talk about trying to change the CPAA. What’s in the works?</p>
<p>LaRaviere: There is an effort of principals organizing themselves behind the scenes. After the op-ed was published, a few principals stepped out and began an effort to meet and create an institution that would be a collective voice for principals. That work is ongoing, and that’s about all I can say about that at this point. The work is not being led by me. I have been recruited into it. Hopefully the public will hear from it soon, maybe a month or so.</p>
<p>But if we want to be effective at changing policies that affect our schools, we have to change legislation. We have to get out and talk to the public so they can talk to their legislators. The defunding of schools was a decision made at the mayoral level, the aldermanic level, the state level. We can’t have a conversation with Barbara Byrd-Bennett and affect the defunding of public education. As principals, we have to step out into the public sphere and have a public conversation.</p>
<p>Adams: The best way I can personally, as a leader, affect legislation is by making my public school a viable option. To show [people] that a neighborhood school can work at the high school level. There are not many of them that have succeeded. Public officials see charter schools and think that’s where it’s at. I know my alderman is pro-charter. But I’ve brought him in and said, ‘Look at what I’m doing.’ I think that’s affecting his mindset a little bit toward public education. So if I can do that and see that he can change his mindset, I can hopefully do that for the community members, for other legislators and senators.</p>
<p>I invite people into our schools. I want them to see that even if the school has had some downs, if you get a good leader in the school, a public education in a neighborhood school can be a flourishing place for kids to learn. But if you keep draining them of resources, it is going to be harder and harder. I feel like sometimes I barely have enough to survive.</p>
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last week catalyst chicago held roundtable discussion handful cps principals gauge thoughts issues public usually doesnt hear talk significant impact well jobs school leaders catalyst talked four principals new statemandated evaluations managing budgets principal training principals ability speak minds without fear reprimand administration idea conversation emerged blaine elementary schools principal troy laraviere wrote topdown culture suppression cps muchcirculated oped chicago suntimes160other principals quickly followed suit including peterson elementary schools adam parrottsheffer wrote oped catalystabout cps turns good ideas bad ones listening ground160 invited laraviere parrottsheffer dozen principals panel discussion offices june 5 several expressed interest four including three vocal critics cps policy participated laraviere parrottsheffer lead highranking schools north side deidrus brown soontobe turned around gresham elementary school south side chad adams firstyear principal sullivan high school north side school academic probation unlike cps principals four participants familiar media spotlight brown declared allout war cpsfor action school adams featured american lifes muchlauded harper high school radio documentary160 length discussion 90 minutes divided transcript four parts edited clarity today begin series general conversation mood among principals go wednesday well continue discussion principal training the160 controversial program supes academy160thursdays discussion focus principal teacher evaluations wrap friday conversation budget matters catalyst chicago principals feeling days deidrus brown theres lot melancholy hope principals would somewhat autonomous making decisions whats best students teachers parents community really case youre told something way puppet didnt go school get four college degrees puppet want valued least heard want sit table discuss best students staff thats frustration comes decisions made individuals really know school adam parrottsheffer laugh remember former ceo jeanclaude brizard first started big thing idea bounded autonomy get lot bounded im really sure know pieces autonomous go back first day school passing checklists district chiefs 150000plus year employees supposed go schools check things like bathrooms clean enough read like checklist running hardees running school catalyst reaction opeds principals feel like permission speak publicly cps ceo barbara byrdbennett160and mayor rahm emanuel publicly said welcome principals input160 troy laraviere teachers principals told grateful article allowed conversation would never possible environment existed released barbara byrdbennett called asked id negative experience office told wasnt things coming cps arent coming office frankly dont even come mayors office national international movement privatize education create excuse destabilizing neighborhood schools mayor one many public officials across nation bought effort chad adams guess ive never felt fear speak maybe personality say mean mean say little bit different perspective colleagues im new principal im firstyear principal know know whats happened question would organization big cps wouldnt sort parameters place talking press think microsoft wouldnt sort protocols follow united way laraviere city chicago run elected official appointed board education cps public institution spends public tax dollars united way spend public tax dollars microsoft spend public tax dollars elect bill gates elect rahm emanuel appoints barbara byrdbennett residents city chicago absolutely must hold accountable question hints idea begins hint idea stop calling democracy160 principals go 8thgrade classrooms theyre teaching constitution tell real clarity say youre speaking board education cps course check cant assume youre speaking cps im speaking board im speaking resident knows board policy principal parrottsheffer local school councils technically im appointed lsc also elected body complicated protocols place protocols need reflect fact level im also appointed elected body report body public forum think lose credibility youre able engage positive news fluff pieces letsfeelgood pieces really want schools good really believe difficult conversations need city need many voices part catalyst relationship chicago principals amp administrators association cpaa voice brown ive received support since announcement turnaround phone calls ive paying member cpaa ever since principal decade would thought someone would reach ive gotten lots support chicago teachers union catalyst weve heard theres talk trying change cpaa whats works laraviere effort principals organizing behind scenes oped published principals stepped began effort meet create institution would collective voice principals work ongoing thats say point work led recruited hopefully public hear soon maybe month want effective changing policies affect schools change legislation get talk public talk legislators defunding schools decision made mayoral level aldermanic level state level cant conversation barbara byrdbennett affect defunding public education principals step public sphere public conversation adams best way personally leader affect legislation making public school viable option show people neighborhood school work high school level many succeeded public officials see charter schools think thats know alderman procharter ive brought said look im think thats affecting mindset little bit toward public education see change mindset hopefully community members legislators senators invite people schools want see even school downs get good leader school public education neighborhood school flourishing place kids learn keep draining resources going harder harder feel like sometimes barely enough survive
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<p>By Bob Allen</p>
<p>A Southern Baptist pastor in Florida responded to Friday’s shooting rampage at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado by claiming Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards hates God and loves death.</p>
<p>In video of his Nov. 29 sermon on WTLV-TV <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/2015/11/florida-pastor-planned-parenthood-president-cecile-richards-hates-our-god-and-loves-death/" type="external">excerpted</a> by Raw Story, Pastor Mac Brunson called on worshippers at his church to listen “in light of what we are living through right now” to <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+8%3A36&amp;version=KJV" type="external">Proverbs 8:26</a>: “But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.”</p>
<p>“I can get onto Planned Parenthood here,” Brunson said. “Who in the world is better to represent them than that president of Planned Parenthood? You’ve seen her on Ellen DeGeneres. You’ve seen her before Congress. She is so astute. She is so smart. She is so sharp. She is attractive. She is so clean cut, but let me tell you something. She hates our God, because she loves death. She loves death.”</p>
<p>“Those doctors that practice that, they hate our God; they love death,” he continued.</p>
<p>Sources say it’s unclear why 57-year-old Robert Lewis Dear killed three people and wounded nine in a deadly siege at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, but at one point he told investigators “no more baby parts.”</p>
<p>He likely alluded to controversial undercover videos by an anti-abortion group alleging that Planned Parenthood profits from the sale of fetal tissue harvested by abortion.</p>
<p>The Center for Medical Progress, the group behind the videos, released a <a href="http://www.centerformedicalprogress.org/blog/" type="external">statement</a> condemning “the barbaric killing spree in Colorado Springs by a violent madman” and applauding “the heroic efforts of law enforcement to stop the violence quickly and rescue the victims.”</p>
<p>Asked <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/11/30/457876048/did-hateful-rhetoric-cause-shooting-hear-planned-parenthoods-careful-response" type="external">Monday</a> on NPR whether it’s fair to link the Colorado shooting to the video controversy, Richards said: “I think it’s important to recognize that words matter, and when you use this kind of hateful rhetoric, whether you are a politician or whether you’re in elected office or whether you’re an opposition group, this kind of rhetoric toward doctors and women seeking health care has real impact.”</p>
<p>Vicki Cowart, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, <a href="https://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/planned-parenthood-of-the-rocky-mountains-response-to-colorado-springs-attacks#sthash.hP4W4O2v.dpuf" type="external">said</a>: “We share the concerns of many Americans that the continued attacks against abortion providers and patients, as well as law enforcement officers, is creating a poisonous environment that breeds acts of violence, but we will never back away from providing critical health care to millions of people who rely on and trust us every day.”</p>
<p>Russell Moore, head of the Southern Baptist Convention Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, denounced the attack on Twitter.</p>
<p>“Vigilante violence at abortion facilities is immoral and condemned by Christians,” Moore tweeted. “We overcome evil with good, not with more evil (Rom 12:21).”</p>
<p>Moore has <a href="https://www.russellmoore.com/2015/07/14/planned-parenthood-and-the-atrocity-of-corpse-selling/" type="external">described</a> practices discussed in the videos as “ <a href="https://erlc.com/article/erlc-president-russell-moore-responds-to-planned-parenthood-corpse-traffick" type="external">murderous in the most ghoulish way imaginable</a>.” He labeled Planned Parenthood a “violent organization of pirates” and identified King Herod, who tried to murder the baby Jesus, as “one of Planned Parenthood’s ancestors.”</p>
<p>“Demonic powers have always hated babies because they have always hated Jesus,” Moore <a href="file:///C:/Users/Robert/Documents/When%20they%20destroy%20the%20" type="external">wrote</a> in August. “When they destroy the ‘least of these’ —&#160;the most vulnerable among us —&#160;they’re destroying a picture of Jesus himself.”</p>
<p>An <a href="http://erlc.com/article/5-facts-about-planned-parenthoods-congressional-testimony" type="external">analysis</a> on the ERLC website of sworn testimony before Congress by Planned Parenthood’s president accused Richards of “misleading claims, inaccurate statements and downright falsehoods.”</p>
<p>“Nothing that Mrs. Richards said before Congress removes any of the deeply disturbing signs that we’ve seen pointing to an industry of human trafficking within Planned Parenthood clinics,” Moore <a href="https://erlc.com/article/erlc-president-russell-moore-responds-to-planned-parenthood-congressional-t" type="external">said</a> Sept. 28.</p>
<p>Denny Burk, professor of biblical studies at Boyce College, the undergraduate arm of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, <a href="http://www.dennyburk.com/on-the-colorado-springs-shooting/" type="external">accused</a> pro-abortion forces in wake of the Planned Parenthood attack of trying to claim the moral high ground through “guilt by association” and “bearing false witness” against pro-life Christians.</p>
<p>“Bottom line: If abortion proponents think they can hide behind this murderer in a cynical effort to distract from the daily killing that goes on in Planned Parenthood clinics, they are wrong,” Burk <a href="http://www.dennyburk.com/on-the-colorado-springs-shooting/" type="external">said</a> in a Nov. 30 blog. “Pro-lifers are not going to be cowed by this. We will continue to shine the light on the sanctity of every human life —&#160;both those inside and outside the abortion mills.”</p>
<p>While the majority of abortion-clinic protests are peaceful, a 2011 <a href="http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20110008.html" type="external">study</a> by the Rand Corporation counted 300 acts of extreme violence against abortion providers in the United States between 1973 and 2003.</p>
<p>In the 1990s civil disobedience escalated from blocking access to women’s health clinics into violent attacks by extremists groups including bombings, arson and the killing of doctors who provide abortions.</p>
<p>Wiley Drake, a former second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, sparked controversy by describing the 2009 murder of Dr. George Tiller, one of the few U.S. physicians who performed late-term abortions, as an answer to prayer.</p>
<p>Asked on Fox News Radio if there were others for which he was voicing “imprecatory prayer,” <a href="archives/item/4126-drake-former-sbc-officer-says-hes-praying-for-obama-to-die-updated" type="external">Drake replied</a>: “The usurper that is in the White House is one, B. Hussein Obama.”</p>
<p>A Southern Baptist Convention spokesman said at the time that any comments by Drake were his personal views, not those of the convention.</p>
<p>One of the three people slain in the Colorado Springs attack, University of Colorado police officer Garrett Swasey, was an <a href="http://www.hopechapelcs.org/#!leaders/c14p2" type="external">elder</a> at Hope Chapel, a non-denominational evangelical congregation and personally <a href="https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/police-officer-killed-at-planned-parenthood-was-pro-life-christian-pastor" type="external">opposed</a> to abortion.</p>
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bob allen southern baptist pastor florida responded fridays shooting rampage planned parenthood clinic colorado claiming planned parenthood federation america president cecile richards hates god loves death video nov 29 sermon wtlvtv excerpted raw story pastor mac brunson called worshippers church listen light living right proverbs 826 sinneth wrongeth soul hate love death get onto planned parenthood brunson said world better represent president planned parenthood youve seen ellen degeneres youve seen congress astute smart sharp attractive clean cut let tell something hates god loves death loves death doctors practice hate god love death continued sources say unclear 57yearold robert lewis dear killed three people wounded nine deadly siege planned parenthood clinic colorado springs one point told investigators baby parts likely alluded controversial undercover videos antiabortion group alleging planned parenthood profits sale fetal tissue harvested abortion center medical progress group behind videos released statement condemning barbaric killing spree colorado springs violent madman applauding heroic efforts law enforcement stop violence quickly rescue victims asked monday npr whether fair link colorado shooting video controversy richards said think important recognize words matter use kind hateful rhetoric whether politician whether youre elected office whether youre opposition group kind rhetoric toward doctors women seeking health care real impact vicki cowart president ceo planned parenthood rocky mountains said share concerns many americans continued attacks abortion providers patients well law enforcement officers creating poisonous environment breeds acts violence never back away providing critical health care millions people rely trust us every day russell moore head southern baptist convention ethics religious liberty commission denounced attack twitter vigilante violence abortion facilities immoral condemned christians moore tweeted overcome evil good evil rom 1221 moore described practices discussed videos murderous ghoulish way imaginable labeled planned parenthood violent organization pirates identified king herod tried murder baby jesus one planned parenthoods ancestors demonic powers always hated babies always hated jesus moore wrote august destroy least 160the vulnerable among us 160theyre destroying picture jesus analysis erlc website sworn testimony congress planned parenthoods president accused richards misleading claims inaccurate statements downright falsehoods nothing mrs richards said congress removes deeply disturbing signs weve seen pointing industry human trafficking within planned parenthood clinics moore said sept 28 denny burk professor biblical studies boyce college undergraduate arm southern baptist theological seminary accused proabortion forces wake planned parenthood attack trying claim moral high ground guilt association bearing false witness prolife christians bottom line abortion proponents think hide behind murderer cynical effort distract daily killing goes planned parenthood clinics wrong burk said nov 30 blog prolifers going cowed continue shine light sanctity every human life 160both inside outside abortion mills majority abortionclinic protests peaceful 2011 study rand corporation counted 300 acts extreme violence abortion providers united states 1973 2003 1990s civil disobedience escalated blocking access womens health clinics violent attacks extremists groups including bombings arson killing doctors provide abortions wiley drake former second vice president southern baptist convention sparked controversy describing 2009 murder dr george tiller one us physicians performed lateterm abortions answer prayer asked fox news radio others voicing imprecatory prayer drake replied usurper white house one b hussein obama southern baptist convention spokesman said time comments drake personal views convention one three people slain colorado springs attack university colorado police officer garrett swasey elder hope chapel nondenominational evangelical congregation personally opposed abortion
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<p>Sec. Hillary Clinton (Image courtesy C-Span)</p>
<p>The gaffe Hillary Clinton made in March&#160;crediting&#160;the Reagans with&#160;starting a “national conversation” on HIV/AIDS &#160;angered many of&#160;her LGBT supporters and created stress in the campaign before she issued an apology reflecting on the epidemic, according to campaign emails made public by WikiLeaks over the weekend.</p>
<p>Shortly after Clinton made the remarks in March on MSNBC during Nancy Reagan’s funeral, she issued an apology in which she said she “misspoke” about the Reagans’ record, but Clinton supporters&#160;outside the campaign insisted&#160;that wasn’t enough.</p>
<p>Richard Socarides, a gay New York-based Democratic activist and Clinton supporter, emailed senior campaign officials to warn them the candidate should address the issue “before this spins out of control.”</p>
<p>“Nancy Reagan in fact helped start a national conversation about HIV and AIDS but as we all know it was far too little and way too late,” Socarides wrote. “When Bill Clinton ran for president in 1992 it was on a platform that was highly critical of the Republican response to the HIV crisis. It had been a record of neglect. As first lady and as senator and as Secretary of State Hillary has been a champion for increased funding and raising awareness.”</p>
<p>Echoing Socarides’ comments in a subsequent email was Steve Elemendorf, a gay Democratic lobbyist, who said he&#160;“cannot overstate how big a problem” the remarks were and called for immediate action from the campaign.</p>
<p>Kristina Schake, a deputy communications director for the Clinton campaign, wrote in another email that Clinton ally and Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin was receiving complaints about&#160;Clinton’s remarks and his&#160;response, which condemned the remarks&#160;but didn’t reference the candidate herself.</p>
<p>“I stayed with Chad last night who was receiving lots of angry calls and notes from people that he didn’t call her out by name,” Schake wrote. “He wouldn’t do that to her and kept stressing she just made a mistake, but suggested we need to do something more today to protect her. She has a great record and we lost a lot of ground messaging-wise.”</p>
<p>Dominic Lowell, the Clinton’s campaign LGBT liasion, distributed an email&#160;to coordinate the response, saying “most people are expressing palpable anger and hurt over the comments” in the last 24 hours over the remarks.</p>
<p>“If I had to break things down, I’d put people into three categories: 1) supporters who were horrified at the comment but accept the apology; 2) supporters who are angry and can only be mollified with a longer statement, tv appearance, roundtable, or something else big that shows she ‘gets it,'” Lowell wrote. “They will continue to make hay in the meantime; and 3) Bernie folks who are happy to have a new line of attack.”</p>
<p>(Indeed, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Clinton’s opponent in the Democratic primary, in the aftermath of Clinton&#160;crediting the Reagans for their efforts on&#160;HIV/AIDS said on CNN’s&#160;“State of the Union” he doesn’t “ <a href="" type="internal">know what she was talking about</a>.”)</p>
<p>Lowell expressed concern about the second group whom he identified, which he said consist of “Queer Nation, ACT UP, and other activists&#160;who are out, loud, and not afraid of direct action or aggressive confrontation,” adding he didn’t&#160;“want this to fester.”</p>
<p>Possibilities&#160;Lowell raised as a response included&#160;bumping up the HIV/AIDS policy roll out or putting together a roundtable. Lowell said Robbie Kaplan, a Clinton supporter and the&#160;attorney who successfully argued against the Defense of Marriage Act, had volunteered the New York-based Gay Men’s Health Crisis to assist with the effort.</p>
<p>(The exchange reveals the idea of a roundtable with HIV/AIDS activists, which was publicly requested after the remarks and occurred&#160;months later, was under consideration at this time.)</p>
<p>Teddy Goff, a technology strategist for Clinton, writes the problem with the candidate is supporters don’t understand “on a fact level, what happened and how she could have gotten so mixed up.”</p>
<p>“And in the absence of any explanatory information, they assume the worst — like that this was some cynical political strategy of ours,” Goff wrote. “(Which, I would note, makes no sense — why would our strategy be to piss everyone off? — but regardless.)”</p>
<p>Jessica Morales Rocketto, digital organizing director for the Clinton campaign, raised the possibility of responding in the “Out for Hillary” Facebook group, which she said had 14,000 members and “the largest LGBT community of Hillary’s supporters I know.”</p>
<p>“These are friendlies, they are already carrying water for us making sure the apology is out there, and they firmly sit in groups 1 and 2 that Dom identified,”&#160;Rocketto said.</p>
<p>Rocketto added&#160;sending talking points out to supporters “really worked” because “they are popping up everywhere on the supporter Facebook groups.”</p>
<p>Recognizing a distinction between younger and older Clinton supporters, Dennis Cheng, national finance director for the Clinton campaign, said using the groups would be helpful, but not enough because “a lot of our people (esp those who are older who lived through the 80s) want to see and hear her address it directly, given that they saw and heard her Reagan remarks on TV.”</p>
<p>After Robbie Mook, who’s gay and Clinton’s campaign manager,&#160;wrote in a subsequent email a Medium post&#160;would be a good opportunity for Clinton&#160;to express herself, the campaign settled on that&#160;course of action.</p>
<p>“She could open it by saying she misspoke and apologizes for that and wanted to make sure people understand what she will do,” Mook wrote.</p>
<p>Megan Rooney, speechwriter for Hillary Clinton, issued the first draft of the Medium post.&#160;In the initial draft, Clinton was to say she was wrong about the Reagans and “said so right away,” but those words were omitted after Goff wrote he didn’t&#160;think “that gets us any extra credit” and sounded “a hair defensive.”</p>
<p>Schake followed up with edits from Griffin, who changed the draft to more clearly state Clinton was sorry “for the pain my comments caused” and the persistence of HIV/AIDS among gay and bisexual men, transgender people and communities of color. Rooney said the chances of Clinton “OK-ing this statement with that top are slim” and the campaign would walk that back, although the phrase “made a mistake” remained in the final writing.</p>
<p>As Xochitl Hinojosa, the Clinton campaign’s LGBT media spokesperson, raised concern about upcoming stories in the LGBT media intending&#160;quote&#160;Clinton&#160;supporters who say the apology isn’t enough, the campaign scrambled to get approval and put the statement online.</p>
<p>“I think we really should do everything we can to get this up today, if at all possible (fingers crossed),” wrote&#160;Clinton campaign director of content and creative Lauren Peterson. “Does not seem to be dying down online, either.”</p>
<p>After approval by Clinton — and a few additional&#160;tweeks, including the removal of a reference to increase funding for PEPFAR in favor of a more general plan for “global funding” — publication was initially set to go, then halted for additional tweeks. A reference to “brave men and women” who fought HIV/AIDS was changed to “brave lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, along with straight allies.”</p>
<p>The <a href="https://medium.com/hillary-for-america/on-the-fight-against-hiv-and-aids-and-on-the-people-who-really-started-the-conversation-7b9fc00e6ed8#.4jd52w8t0" type="external">final Medium post</a> has Clinton asserting she was wrong about the Reagans and touting her record in speaking out in favor of efforts to combat HIV/AIDS at the domestic and international levels and mentioned her plan to achieve an “AIDS-free generation.”&#160;Among the proposals in the draft were extending Medicaid, reforming HIV criminalization laws, capping out-of-pocket drug expenses for HIV/AIDS medications and expanding access to PrEP.</p>
<p>“We’ve come a long way,” Clinton says in the post. “But we still have work to do to eradicate this disease for good and to erase the stigma that is an echo of a shameful and painful period in our country’s history.”</p>
<p>When the statement when online, staffers responded with jubilation. Jennifer Palmieri, the Clinton campaign’s director of communications, wrote, “Praise, Jesus!” Clinton campaign spokesperson Dan Schwerin commended his colleagues for&#160;the post and called it “amazing actually.”</p>
<p>Praise also came from outside the campaign. Jenna Lowenstein, digital director for the Clinton campaign wrote on Medium “the top comments are overwhelmingly positive (and some are quite moving).” Lowell passed around a statement from former Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese, who said the post&#160;“literally brought [a] tear to my eyes,” and from another statement from AIDS activist Larry Kramer, who was angered with Clinton’s remarks, but satisfied with the Medium&#160;post.</p>
<p>Ann O’Leary, senior policy adviser for the&#160;Clinton campaign, shared a message&#160;she said came from a couple, Viki and Jen, who were among the couples to marry in San Francisco by then-Mayor Gavin Newsom in 2004.</p>
<p>“Jen and I wanted to tell you how incredibly impressed we were with HRC when she was able to apologize for what she said about the Reagans etc. in such a remarkably humble and authentic way,” the message reads. “She showed true leadership, something we are not seeing a lot of these days. We are so proud of her and moved by her courage to open herself up publicly in this manner. Definitely presidential material!!”</p>
<p>Even though Clinton twice apologized for the remarks and recommitted herself to fight HIV/AIDS in the aftermath, it remains unclear why she made the remarks in the first place. Some have speculated she confused Nancy Reagan’s work on Alzheimer’s disease with HIV/AIDS; others claims the remarks were an effort&#160;to curry favor with Reagan Democrats.</p>
<p>As foreshadowed in the emails, Clinton would take part in a meeting with HIV/AIDS activists and recommitted herself to fighting the epidemic. Sanders&#160;scheduled a meeting with HIV/AIDS activists at the same time as Clinton, but later cancelled the meeting on short notice, then rescheduled in California before the primary in that state.</p>
<p>The Washington Blade has placed a call to&#160;the Clinton campaign seeking comment on the leaked emails. The Clinton campaign hasn’t publicly acknowledged, nor denied, the veracity of the messages in the WikiLeaks dump.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">election 2016</a> <a href="" type="internal">Hillary Clinton</a> <a href="" type="internal">HIV/AIDS</a></p>
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sec hillary clinton image courtesy cspan gaffe hillary clinton made march160crediting160the reagans with160starting national conversation hivaids 160angered many of160her lgbt supporters created stress campaign issued apology reflecting epidemic according campaign emails made public wikileaks weekend shortly clinton made remarks march msnbc nancy reagans funeral issued apology said misspoke reagans record clinton supporters160outside campaign insisted160that wasnt enough richard socarides gay new yorkbased democratic activist clinton supporter emailed senior campaign officials warn candidate address issue spins control nancy reagan fact helped start national conversation hiv aids know far little way late socarides wrote bill clinton ran president 1992 platform highly critical republican response hiv crisis record neglect first lady senator secretary state hillary champion increased funding raising awareness echoing socarides comments subsequent email steve elemendorf gay democratic lobbyist said he160cannot overstate big problem remarks called immediate action campaign kristina schake deputy communications director clinton campaign wrote another email clinton ally human rights campaign president chad griffin receiving complaints about160clintons remarks his160response condemned remarks160but didnt reference candidate stayed chad last night receiving lots angry calls notes people didnt call name schake wrote wouldnt kept stressing made mistake suggested need something today protect great record lost lot ground messagingwise dominic lowell clintons campaign lgbt liasion distributed email160to coordinate response saying people expressing palpable anger hurt comments last 24 hours remarks break things id put people three categories 1 supporters horrified comment accept apology 2 supporters angry mollified longer statement tv appearance roundtable something else big shows gets lowell wrote continue make hay meantime 3 bernie folks happy new line attack indeed sen bernie sanders clintons opponent democratic primary aftermath clinton160crediting reagans efforts on160hivaids said cnns160state union doesnt know talking lowell expressed concern second group identified said consist queer nation act activists160who loud afraid direct action aggressive confrontation adding didnt160want fester possibilities160lowell raised response included160bumping hivaids policy roll putting together roundtable lowell said robbie kaplan clinton supporter the160attorney successfully argued defense marriage act volunteered new yorkbased gay mens health crisis assist effort exchange reveals idea roundtable hivaids activists publicly requested remarks occurred160months later consideration time teddy goff technology strategist clinton writes problem candidate supporters dont understand fact level happened could gotten mixed absence explanatory information assume worst like cynical political strategy goff wrote would note makes sense would strategy piss everyone regardless jessica morales rocketto digital organizing director clinton campaign raised possibility responding hillary facebook group said 14000 members largest lgbt community hillarys supporters know friendlies already carrying water us making sure apology firmly sit groups 1 2 dom identified160rocketto said rocketto added160sending talking points supporters really worked popping everywhere supporter facebook groups recognizing distinction younger older clinton supporters dennis cheng national finance director clinton campaign said using groups would helpful enough lot people esp older lived 80s want see hear address directly given saw heard reagan remarks tv robbie mook whos gay clintons campaign manager160wrote subsequent email medium post160would good opportunity clinton160to express campaign settled that160course action could open saying misspoke apologizes wanted make sure people understand mook wrote megan rooney speechwriter hillary clinton issued first draft medium post160in initial draft clinton say wrong reagans said right away words omitted goff wrote didnt160think gets us extra credit sounded hair defensive schake followed edits griffin changed draft clearly state clinton sorry pain comments caused persistence hivaids among gay bisexual men transgender people communities color rooney said chances clinton oking statement top slim campaign would walk back although phrase made mistake remained final writing xochitl hinojosa clinton campaigns lgbt media spokesperson raised concern upcoming stories lgbt media intending160quote160clinton160supporters say apology isnt enough campaign scrambled get approval put statement online think really everything get today possible fingers crossed wrote160clinton campaign director content creative lauren peterson seem dying online either approval clinton additional160tweeks including removal reference increase funding pepfar favor general plan global funding publication initially set go halted additional tweeks reference brave men women fought hivaids changed brave lesbian gay bisexual transgender people along straight allies final medium post clinton asserting wrong reagans touting record speaking favor efforts combat hivaids domestic international levels mentioned plan achieve aidsfree generation160among proposals draft extending medicaid reforming hiv criminalization laws capping outofpocket drug expenses hivaids medications expanding access prep weve come long way clinton says post still work eradicate disease good erase stigma echo shameful painful period countrys history statement online staffers responded jubilation jennifer palmieri clinton campaigns director communications wrote praise jesus clinton campaign spokesperson dan schwerin commended colleagues for160the post called amazing actually praise also came outside campaign jenna lowenstein digital director clinton campaign wrote medium top comments overwhelmingly positive quite moving lowell passed around statement former human rights campaign president joe solmonese said post160literally brought tear eyes another statement aids activist larry kramer angered clintons remarks satisfied medium160post ann oleary senior policy adviser the160clinton campaign shared message160she said came couple viki jen among couples marry san francisco thenmayor gavin newsom 2004 jen wanted tell incredibly impressed hrc able apologize said reagans etc remarkably humble authentic way message reads showed true leadership something seeing lot days proud moved courage open publicly manner definitely presidential material even though clinton twice apologized remarks recommitted fight hivaids aftermath remains unclear made remarks first place speculated confused nancy reagans work alzheimers disease hivaids others claims remarks effort160to curry favor reagan democrats foreshadowed emails clinton would take part meeting hivaids activists recommitted fighting epidemic sanders160scheduled meeting hivaids activists time clinton later cancelled meeting short notice rescheduled california primary state washington blade placed call to160the clinton campaign seeking comment leaked emails clinton campaign hasnt publicly acknowledged denied veracity messages wikileaks dump election 2016 hillary clinton hivaids
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<p>A Southern Baptist seminary president says theology played a role in Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal’s decision to veto a measure that would have discriminated against the state’s LGBT community.</p>
<p>Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., said in a March 29 <a href="http://www.albertmohler.com/2016/03/29/the-briefing-03-29-16/" type="external">podcast</a> that along with economic and political pressures, the governor’s veto “is fueled by a theological agenda as well.”</p>
<p>Mohler noted that Deal and his family are members of First Baptist Church of Gainesville, Ga., a congregation identified with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, described by Mohler as “a more liberal group than the Southern Baptist Convention.”</p>
<p>Mohler quoted <a href="https://baptiststoday.org/ministering-among-mixed-responses/" type="external">comments</a>&#160;by Deal’s pastor, Bill Coates, last summer after the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states.</p>
<p>Albert Mohler</p>
<p>“Each church will have to decide how to walk through the marriage equality debate,” Coates said at the time. “I think we should respect those who choose to allow their ministers not to perform same-sex weddings out of their own deep convictions, and I think we should respect churches that choose to allow their ministers that right, for they make their choice out of deep convictions, too.”</p>
<p>Coates went on to say: “As with most things in life, we have to balance. In this case, we must balance our esteem for the dignity of every person, gay or straight, with the harmony of the congregation we are part of. It is not easy, but it is possible. Jesus teaches us to love God and love our neighbor, just as Moses taught. We cannot love our neighbor and treat him or her as a second-class citizen at the same time. I say this: I do not always know what the truth is, but I can always tell what love is. I believe love is the greatest of all, and to do the loving thing will always be the right thing. Most congregations will eventually find their way there.”</p>
<p>“What that can only mean is that most congregations will eventually get to an affirmation of same-sex marriage in one way or another,” Mohler said.</p>
<p>Faith leaders speak out against anti-LGBT legislation at the Georgia Capitol. (Photo/Promise the Children)</p>
<p>“It is all of a piece,” Mohler said. “When eventually the history of this moral revolution is written, it will be very clear that various forces were at work and in concert. They include political pressure, economic pressure. They include activism by LGBT groups. They include those who eventually reach the tipping point in a society where they decide —&#160;you’ve heard this argument so many times before —&#160;they are determined to end up on the so-called right side of history.”</p>
<p>“There will be theological and religious actors as well,” Mohler said, “and we shouldn’t be surprised to find them using extremely similar language: language that in the end means that sooner or later everybody has to join the moral revolution. It is only at the end of the day for those who are forcing this revolution a matter of when, not if.”</p>
<p>In a statement to BNG, CBF executive coordinator Suzii Paynter said Deal’s veto “does not diminish religious freedom for congregations.</p>
<p>“In uncertain times, we seek certainty through government, but religious liberty has taught us that there’s peril in seeking confidence from the state,” Paynter said.</p>
<p>“The rich variety of expression within the church of Jesus Christ has contributed to the vitality of Christianity across the centuries and cultures worldwide. The Good News of God’s message in Christ has weathered many cultural storms and disagreements. It is the strength of the Lordship of Christ which prevails in all times. Jesus calls us to unity in Christ amidst real diversity, so ‘that the world may know.’”</p>
<p>Deal said he decided to veto <a href="http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20152016/HB/757" type="external">HB 757</a>, a bill exempting religious officials from marrying&#160;couples of the same sex, because by the time it reached his desk it “contained language that could give rise to state-sanctioned discrimination.”</p>
<p>“As I’ve said before,&#160;I do not think we have to discriminate against anyone to protect the faith-based community in Georgia of which my family and I are a part of for all of our lives,” the Republican governor <a href="https://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2016-03-28/transcript-deal-hb-757-remarks-0" type="external">said</a>.&#160;“Our actions on HB&#160;757 are not just about protecting the faith-based community or providing a business-friendly climate for job growth in Georgia.&#160;This is about the character of our state and the character of its people.&#160;Georgia is a welcoming state filled with warm, friendly and loving people. Our cities and countryside are populated with people who worship God in a myriad of ways and in very diverse settings.&#160;Our people work side-by-side without regard to the color of our skin, or the religion we adhere to. We are working to make life better for our families and our communities.&#160;That is the character of Georgia. I intend to do my part to keep it that way.”</p>
<p>A CBF statement distributed to BNG by a spokesperson echoed Paynter’s emphasis on unity.</p>
<p>“Unity within the larger family of faith has been the foundation of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship for 25 years,” the statement read. “As a Fellowship we seek to live into God’s gift of unity while celebrating our liberty in Christ. In the face of controversies in the public square, such as Georgia Governor Nathan Deal’s recent veto of HB 757, we should reflect on the importance of these gifts of unity and freedom.</p>
<p>“As Cooperative Baptists, we understand advocacy to be a biblical, faithful expression of Christian mission. Being an advocate means responsibly speaking out on behalf of others. We lament the lack of civility from otherwise well-intentioned voices who have questioned the faith and convictions of Governor Deal and targeted other opponents of HB 757 with divisive and derogatory rhetoric. As Christians, we can do better. Christ compels us to do so.”</p>
<p>For the second year in a row officials of the 1.3-million-member Georgia Baptist Convention, a statewide affiliate of the SBC, came out early in support of the legislation prompted by the&#160;Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage.</p>
<p>Previous stories:</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Georgia governor vetoes anti-LGBT&#160;bill</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Georgia’s Baptist governor opposes ‘religious liberty’ bill</a></p>
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southern baptist seminary president says theology played role georgia gov nathan deals decision veto measure would discriminated states lgbt community albert mohler president southern baptist theological seminary louisville ky said march 29 podcast along economic political pressures governors veto fueled theological agenda well mohler noted deal family members first baptist church gainesville ga congregation identified cooperative baptist fellowship described mohler liberal group southern baptist convention mohler quoted comments160by deals pastor bill coates last summer supreme court legalized samesex marriage 50 states albert mohler church decide walk marriage equality debate coates said time think respect choose allow ministers perform samesex weddings deep convictions think respect churches choose allow ministers right make choice deep convictions coates went say things life balance case must balance esteem dignity every person gay straight harmony congregation part easy possible jesus teaches us love god love neighbor moses taught love neighbor treat secondclass citizen time say always know truth always tell love believe love greatest loving thing always right thing congregations eventually find way mean congregations eventually get affirmation samesex marriage one way another mohler said faith leaders speak antilgbt legislation georgia capitol photopromise children piece mohler said eventually history moral revolution written clear various forces work concert include political pressure economic pressure include activism lgbt groups include eventually reach tipping point society decide 160youve heard argument many times 160they determined end socalled right side history theological religious actors well mohler said shouldnt surprised find using extremely similar language language end means sooner later everybody join moral revolution end day forcing revolution matter statement bng cbf executive coordinator suzii paynter said deals veto diminish religious freedom congregations uncertain times seek certainty government religious liberty taught us theres peril seeking confidence state paynter said rich variety expression within church jesus christ contributed vitality christianity across centuries cultures worldwide good news gods message christ weathered many cultural storms disagreements strength lordship christ prevails times jesus calls us unity christ amidst real diversity world may know deal said decided veto hb 757 bill exempting religious officials marrying160couples sex time reached desk contained language could give rise statesanctioned discrimination ive said before160i think discriminate anyone protect faithbased community georgia family part lives republican governor said160our actions hb160757 protecting faithbased community providing businessfriendly climate job growth georgia160this character state character people160georgia welcoming state filled warm friendly loving people cities countryside populated people worship god myriad ways diverse settings160our people work sidebyside without regard color skin religion adhere working make life better families communities160that character georgia intend part keep way cbf statement distributed bng spokesperson echoed paynters emphasis unity unity within larger family faith foundation cooperative baptist fellowship 25 years statement read fellowship seek live gods gift unity celebrating liberty christ face controversies public square georgia governor nathan deals recent veto hb 757 reflect importance gifts unity freedom cooperative baptists understand advocacy biblical faithful expression christian mission advocate means responsibly speaking behalf others lament lack civility otherwise wellintentioned voices questioned faith convictions governor deal targeted opponents hb 757 divisive derogatory rhetoric christians better christ compels us second year row officials 13millionmember georgia baptist convention statewide affiliate sbc came early support legislation prompted the160supreme court decision legalizing samesex marriage previous stories georgia governor vetoes antilgbt160bill georgias baptist governor opposes religious liberty bill
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<p>By Bob Allen</p>
<p>Southern Baptist Convention leaders termed “Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson, suspended by A&amp;E for controversial anti-gay statements in a magazine interview, the latest casualty in America’s culture war.</p>
<p>“[T]he controversy over Duck Dynasty sends a clear signal to anyone who has anything to risk in public life,” Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, <a href="http://www.albertmohler.com/2013/12/19/you-have-been-warned-the-duck-dynasty-controversy/" type="external">commented</a> in a blog Dec. 19. “Say nothing about the sinfulness of homosexual acts or risk sure and certain destruction by the revolutionaries of the new morality. You have been warned.”</p>
<p>“This is ridiculous,” SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission head Russell Moore said in a comment on Twitter linking to a Variety <a href="http://variety.com/2013/tv/news/duck-dynasty-ae-suspends-phil-robertson-following-gay-remarks-1200974473/" type="external">story</a> headlined “‘Duck Dynasty’: Phil Robertson Suspended Indefinitely Following Anti-Gay Remarks.”</p>
<p>Robertson, patriarch of the Louisiana clan featured in the most popular reality show on cable TV, sparked controversy with an <a href="http://www.gq.com/entertainment/television/201401/duck-dynasty-phil-robertson?currentPage=2" type="external">interview</a> in GQ Magazine offering his definition of what is sinful.</p>
<p>From the magazine: “Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men,” he says. Then he paraphrases Corinthians: “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers — they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”</p>
<p>GLAAD, <a href="http://www.glaad.org/about/history" type="external">formed</a> in 1985 as the “Gay &amp; Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation” to pressure media to stop promoting anti-gay stereotypes, called Robertson’s comments “some of the vilest and most extreme statements uttered against LGBT people in a mainstream publication” and said they were “littered with outdated stereotypes and blatant misinformation.”</p>
<p>“Phil and his family claim to be Christian, but Phil’s lies about an entire community fly in the face of what true Christians believe,” <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/duck-dynastys-phil-robertson-uses-vile-stereotypes-tell-gq-his-thoughts-lgbt-people" type="external">said</a> GLAAD spokesperson Wilson Cruz. “He clearly knows nothing about gay people or the <a href="http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2011/PPP_Release_LA_821.pdf" type="external">majority of Louisianans</a> — and Americans — who support legal recognition for loving and committed gay and lesbian couples. Phil’s decision to push vile and extreme stereotypes is a stain on A&amp;E and his sponsors who now need to re-examine their ties to someone with such public disdain for LGBT people and families.”</p>
<p>The network released a <a href="http://www.glaad.org/blog/ae-network-places-star-indefinite-filming-hiatus-following-anti-gay-remarks" type="external">statement</a> Nov. 18 reading: “We are extremely disappointed to have read Phil Robertson’s comments in GQ, which are based on his own personal beliefs and are not reflected in the series ‘Duck Dynasty.’ His personal views in no way reflect those of A+E Networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community.&#160;The network has placed Phil under hiatus from filming&#160;indefinitely.”</p>
<p>A&amp;E released a statement from Robertson saying in part: “I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity.”</p>
<p>Moore, who took over as the Southern Baptist Convention’s top expert on moral and religious liberty concerns this summer, appeared in a story about the controversy on CNN.</p>
<p>“Suggesting that people who hold to what every branch of the Christian faith has held to for 2,000 years is somehow bigoted or hateful is not productive for speech,” Moore <a href="http://outfront.blogs.cnn.com/2013/12/18/duck-dynasty-star-compares-homosexuality-to-beastiality/" type="external">said</a> in an interview for CNN OutFront with Erin Burnett.</p>
<p>Moore elaborated in a blog <a href="http://erlc.com/article/moore-says-suspension-of-robertson-ridiculous-calls-for-cultural-conversati" type="external">posted</a> on the ERLC website, saying if a person disagrees with what someone says on a television program, he or she is free to change the channel.</p>
<p>“Let’s have genuine diversity, meaning let’s talk honestly with one another about what we believe and why,” Moore <a href="http://www.russellmoore.com/2013/12/18/duck-dynasty/#more-14598" type="external">said</a>. “Muting one another isn’t what debate is for in a free society. It’s what remote controls are for.”</p>
<p>Mohler said he would have preferred that Robertson had been less graphic in using anatomical terms to argue that that being with a woman “would be more desirable” for a man, but his point that homosexual acts are against nature is the same argument used by the Apostle Paul in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1%3A26-27" type="external">Romans 1:26</a>.</p>
<p>Mohler described Robertson’s comments as “a rather accurate paraphrase” of <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+6%3A9-10&amp;version=KJV;NLT;NASB;NIV;AMP" type="external">First Corinthians 6:9-10</a>: “Or do you not know that the unrighteous&#160;will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:&#160;neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,&#160;nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”</p>
<p>Denny Burk, associate professor at Boyce College, Southern Seminary’s undergraduate arm, said on his blog he predicted privately months ago “that it would only be a matter of time before the media sniffed out the views of the ‘Duck Dynasty’ guys about sexuality.”</p>
<p>“So here’s my second prediction,” Burk <a href="http://www.dennyburk.com/duck-dynasty-prediction/" type="external">wrote</a>. “This won’t end with Phil Robertson’s suspension. His remarks will end ‘Duck Dynasty.’ The other guys on the program will be dogged in every interview from here on out until they give their opinions as well. And as soon as they do, the entire cast will be branded heretical by the sexual revolutionaries that dominate popular culture. When that happens, that will be the end.”</p>
<p>Burk said he hopes he is wrong, but if the controversy brings about ‘Duck Dynasty’s’ demise: “It means that A&amp;E is yet another sector of popular culture in which Christian views about sexual norms are not allowed. The cultural space for our views is shrinking rapidly, and there are people who won’t stop shrinking the space until there’s no space left at all.”</p>
<p>The GQ article describes the Robertsons, who end their program with the family gathered around the table in prayer, as “ideal Christian icons: beloved for staking out a bit of holy ground within the mostly secular, often downright sinful, pop culture of America.”</p>
<p>LifeWay Christian Resources, the SBC publishing arm, featured video interviews of both <a href="http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=39882" type="external">Phil Robertson</a> and his brother, <a href="http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=40879" type="external">Si</a>, promoting books that came out in 2013.</p>
<p>Kelly Boggs, editor of the Baptist Message in Louisiana and a columnist for Baptist Press, <a href="http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=40919" type="external">wrote</a> in August: “’Duck Dynasty’ proves there is a market for wholesome entertainment that features authentic people who embrace traditional, even Christian, values. What is amazing is the fact that much of Hollywood continues to ignore this market.”</p>
<p>Joe Carter, who later joined the ERLC staff, praised the show in a blog titled “ <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/03/18/9-things-you-should-know-about-duck-dynasty/" type="external">9 Things You Should Know About ‘Duck Dynasty</a>‘” on the Gospel Coalition website in March.</p>
<p>Some Southern Baptists were <a href="http://toddrhoades.com/some-southern-baptists-not-thrilled-with-duck-dynastys-friendship-with-some-sbcers/" type="external">unhappy</a> with such blanket affirmation, <a href="http://hereiblog.com/few-more-things-should-know-duck-dynasty/" type="external">claiming</a> it implied endorsement of the family’s membership at White’s Ferry Road Church of Christ, which holds views on baptism contrary to those espoused by Southern Baptists in the <a href="http://www.sbc.org/bfm/bfm2000.asp#vii" type="external">Baptist Faith and Message</a>.</p>
<p>Previous story:</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Ministry cancels ‘Duck Dynasty’ event</a></p>
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bob allen southern baptist convention leaders termed duck dynasty star phil robertson suspended aampe controversial antigay statements magazine interview latest casualty americas culture war controversy duck dynasty sends clear signal anyone anything risk public life albert mohler president southern baptist theological seminary commented blog dec 19 say nothing sinfulness homosexual acts risk sure certain destruction revolutionaries new morality warned ridiculous sbc ethics religious liberty commission head russell moore said comment twitter linking variety story headlined duck dynasty phil robertson suspended indefinitely following antigay remarks robertson patriarch louisiana clan featured popular reality show cable tv sparked controversy interview gq magazine offering definition sinful magazine start homosexual behavior morph bestiality sleeping around woman woman woman men says paraphrases corinthians dont deceived neither adulterers idolaters male prostitutes homosexual offenders greedy drunkards slanderers swindlers wont inherit kingdom god dont deceive right glaad formed 1985 gay amp lesbian alliance defamation pressure media stop promoting antigay stereotypes called robertsons comments vilest extreme statements uttered lgbt people mainstream publication said littered outdated stereotypes blatant misinformation phil family claim christian phils lies entire community fly face true christians believe said glaad spokesperson wilson cruz clearly knows nothing gay people majority louisianans americans support legal recognition loving committed gay lesbian couples phils decision push vile extreme stereotypes stain aampe sponsors need reexamine ties someone public disdain lgbt people families network released statement nov 18 reading extremely disappointed read phil robertsons comments gq based personal beliefs reflected series duck dynasty personal views way reflect ae networks always strong supporters champions lgbt community160the network placed phil hiatus filming160indefinitely aampe released statement robertson saying part would never treat anyone disrespect different created almighty like love humanity moore took southern baptist conventions top expert moral religious liberty concerns summer appeared story controversy cnn suggesting people hold every branch christian faith held 2000 years somehow bigoted hateful productive speech moore said interview cnn outfront erin burnett moore elaborated blog posted erlc website saying person disagrees someone says television program free change channel lets genuine diversity meaning lets talk honestly one another believe moore said muting one another isnt debate free society remote controls mohler said would preferred robertson less graphic using anatomical terms argue woman would desirable man point homosexual acts nature argument used apostle paul romans 126 mohler described robertsons comments rather accurate paraphrase first corinthians 6910 know unrighteous160will inherit kingdom god deceived160neither sexually immoral idolaters adulterers men practice homosexuality160nor thieves greedy drunkards revilers swindlers inherit kingdom god denny burk associate professor boyce college southern seminarys undergraduate arm said blog predicted privately months ago would matter time media sniffed views duck dynasty guys sexuality heres second prediction burk wrote wont end phil robertsons suspension remarks end duck dynasty guys program dogged every interview give opinions well soon entire cast branded heretical sexual revolutionaries dominate popular culture happens end burk said hopes wrong controversy brings duck dynastys demise means aampe yet another sector popular culture christian views sexual norms allowed cultural space views shrinking rapidly people wont stop shrinking space theres space left gq article describes robertsons end program family gathered around table prayer ideal christian icons beloved staking bit holy ground within mostly secular often downright sinful pop culture america lifeway christian resources sbc publishing arm featured video interviews phil robertson brother si promoting books came 2013 kelly boggs editor baptist message louisiana columnist baptist press wrote august duck dynasty proves market wholesome entertainment features authentic people embrace traditional even christian values amazing fact much hollywood continues ignore market joe carter later joined erlc staff praised show blog titled 9 things know duck dynasty gospel coalition website march southern baptists unhappy blanket affirmation claiming implied endorsement familys membership whites ferry road church christ holds views baptism contrary espoused southern baptists baptist faith message previous story ministry cancels duck dynasty event
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<p>CAIRO, Egypt — On a bustling crowded market street in Cairo packed with storefronts selling wholesale flour and cigarettes, there is a small green door sealed with red wax. It is an ominous sign — it means that the police have been here and that the place is closed until further notice.</p>
<p>This particular door marks the entrance to the Bab el-Bahr hammam, whose name means “Door to the Sea.”</p>
<p>One night in December, officers from the police and Central Security Forces burst into this traditional bathhouse and arrested the 26 people inside, including all the staff, down to the man whose job it was to make the tea.</p>
<p>The men are currently on trial facing charges of “habitual debauchery” and “indecent public acts," among others; bywords in Egyptian law for the prosecution of homosexuality.</p>
<p>While nothing is known about the sexuality or sexual practices of those arrested, the raid represents one of the most serious escalations in a worsening crackdown over recent months on the LGBT community in Egypt — a group that has long faced discrimination from the state.</p>
<p>Since November 2013, about 150 people have been arrested on charges related to “debauchery,” according to Dalia Abd El-Hameed, gender and women’s rights officer with the Egyptian Institute for Personal Rights.</p>
<p>A notable case came in November last year, when eight men were sentenced to three years in prison for appearing in a video that purported to <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/01/egypt-gay-wedding-video-cairo-court-sentence-defendants-families" type="external">show a gay wedding</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>An easy target&#160;</p>
<p>There are many theories as to why the state is going after the community now.</p>
<p>“With no social sympathy with them they are an easy target for the police so they would be gaining points by arresting them,” says Abd El-Hameed.</p>
<p>Ahmed Hossam, a lawyer for the majority of the defendants in the bathhouse case, says that at a time when Egypt is in political and economic crisis, it’s a case of “look at the bird” — the state wants to create a distraction.</p>
<p>Egypt has a history of persecuting the LGBT community. One infamous raid in 2001&#160;saw 52 men arrested on a floating nightclub called <a href="http://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/egypt0304/3.htm" type="external">the Queen Boat</a>. In 2004, authorities targeted gay men by <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/id/4422172/ns/world_news/t/report-egypt-entraps-tortures-gay-men/" type="external">entrapping them on the internet.</a></p>
<p>The community faced persecution under long-serving former president Hosni Mubarak, but now the sentences are longer and they are tending to stick, when once they were routinely overturned on appeal. In a recent case, a person found guilty was given 12 years in jail.</p>
<p>Even in what was arguably the freest time in the post-revolutionary period, there was little hope in the LGBT community that anything would change for them anytime soon.</p>
<p>“The groups that existed [then] were not thinking in terms of political or legal change, they were thinking in terms of just building a community, helping people feel better about themselves, helping them deal, giving them support in dealing with the kinds of day-to-day problems that most LGBT people were facing,” says Scott Long, a human rights activist living in Cairo and founder and former director of the LGBT program at Human Rights Watch.</p>
<p>Compared to previous crackdowns, though, the bathhouse raid stands out.</p>
<p>The raid itself is believed to have been initiated by a local TV crew, which broadcast the entire thing after apparently leading the police to the building as part of an investigation into the spread of AIDS in Egypt.</p>
<p>“For the first time in the history of Egyptian and Arabic media, we lead the morality police to storm the biggest den for male group sex in the heart of Cairo,” said the trailer for the broadcast.</p>
<p>Scant evidence</p>
<p>What came next was even worse.</p>
<p>The Egyptian justice system sanctions an archaic so-called “forensic medical examination,” discredited among most doctors worldwide, in which the accused’s anus is examined to determine whether the person has engaged in habitual anal sex.</p>
<p>The practice can be traced to a French medical writer from the 1840s named Auguste Tardieu.</p>
<p>“He claimed that habitual prostitutes suffer from deformation of the vagina because they’ve had too many penises inserted in them and habitual sodomites, habitual pederasts he called them, suffer from the same deformation of the anus. The vagina and the anus become funnel-shaped,” explains Long.</p>
<p>The practice persists in Egypt in 2015, despite the very doctors who use the test questioning its effectiveness.</p>
<p>“It’s known that it’s not 100 percent accurate,” says Dr. Hazem Hossam, a doctor with the Forensic Medical Authority. “And of course, if they are innocent, then the test will have a negative psychological effect.”</p>
<p>In this case all but three of the defendants were found to be “unused” — the term used by the court — and in the remaining three cases, the findings could be signs of other medical conditions, say doctors.</p>
<p>With the grim tests giving prosecutors nothing to go on, the main evidence in the bathhouse case is the word of one police officer. In the initial police report seen by GlobalPost, Ahmed Hashad, a colonel in the morality department of the police, describes in lurid detail what he saw when he and his men burst in.</p>
<p>“It’s as though when he entered the bathhouse, someone hit pause on the video” said Hossam, the lawyer.</p>
<p>He cast doubt on the officer's account, which describes in detail particular sex acts and names of who was doing what with whom at the moment when masked gun-wielding members of Central Security burst into the bathhouse.&#160;</p>
<p>Analysts say that evidence in such cases is often irrelevant, anyway, and that the judge often pronounces the verdict based on whether or not the person looks effeminate or “gay” to them.</p>
<p>Lives ruined&#160;</p>
<p>The penultimate session of the trial began on Jan. 5, when the 26 defendants were dragged into the courtroom handcuffed to one another, heads down, many covering their faces with hoodies or scarves to conceal their identities.</p>
<p>A verdict is expected on Jan. 12, but even if the men are found innocent, much of the damage has already been done.</p>
<p>“If they haven’t been convicted they would be socially convicted,” says Abd El-Hameed. Those who can often seek asylum or work outside the country after such an event.</p>
<p>“It’s a devastating, life-changing incident. Many are immediately fired from their work, many of them are kicked out of their homes,” she adds.</p>
<p>“Scandal will follow them their whole lives even if they are found innocent,” says Khalifa, who has worked on many LGBT cases.</p>
<p>While some of the families come to the courthouse to show their support, for most, their lives will never be the same.</p>
<p>One of the female family members wore a face veil at the court, which she normally doesn't do, to conceal her identity because of the social stigma.</p>
<p>“He is wronged! He just went to take a steam bath, it’s the first time he went,” said Mohamed, the brother of one of the accused. “We all pray, we know God, how would one of us do this?” he asks. “I’ll be in court when my brother is pronounced innocent.”</p>
<p>Meanwhile, observers see the targeting of the gay community as part of a wider crackdown that has seen an ever-increasing invasion of the private lives of Egyptians.</p>
<p>“What we’re seeing is a new kind of atmosphere and a new kind of moral policing where the police are really concerned with invading private spaces [and] figuring out what’s happening in private homes,” says Long. “I think it’s a symbolic message and it’s a very practical one for the regime as well: that we’re watching you.”</p>
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cairo egypt bustling crowded market street cairo packed storefronts selling wholesale flour cigarettes small green door sealed red wax ominous sign means police place closed notice particular door marks entrance bab elbahr hammam whose name means door sea one night december officers police central security forces burst traditional bathhouse arrested 26 people inside including staff man whose job make tea men currently trial facing charges habitual debauchery indecent public acts among others bywords egyptian law prosecution homosexuality nothing known sexuality sexual practices arrested raid represents one serious escalations worsening crackdown recent months lgbt community egypt group long faced discrimination state since november 2013 150 people arrested charges related debauchery according dalia abd elhameed gender womens rights officer egyptian institute personal rights notable case came november last year eight men sentenced three years prison appearing video purported show gay wedding160 easy target160 many theories state going community social sympathy easy target police would gaining points arresting says abd elhameed ahmed hossam lawyer majority defendants bathhouse case says time egypt political economic crisis case look bird state wants create distraction egypt history persecuting lgbt community one infamous raid 2001160saw 52 men arrested floating nightclub called queen boat 2004 authorities targeted gay men entrapping internet community faced persecution longserving former president hosni mubarak sentences longer tending stick routinely overturned appeal recent case person found guilty given 12 years jail even arguably freest time postrevolutionary period little hope lgbt community anything would change anytime soon groups existed thinking terms political legal change thinking terms building community helping people feel better helping deal giving support dealing kinds daytoday problems lgbt people facing says scott long human rights activist living cairo founder former director lgbt program human rights watch compared previous crackdowns though bathhouse raid stands raid believed initiated local tv crew broadcast entire thing apparently leading police building part investigation spread aids egypt first time history egyptian arabic media lead morality police storm biggest den male group sex heart cairo said trailer broadcast scant evidence came next even worse egyptian justice system sanctions archaic socalled forensic medical examination discredited among doctors worldwide accuseds anus examined determine whether person engaged habitual anal sex practice traced french medical writer 1840s named auguste tardieu claimed habitual prostitutes suffer deformation vagina theyve many penises inserted habitual sodomites habitual pederasts called suffer deformation anus vagina anus become funnelshaped explains long practice persists egypt 2015 despite doctors use test questioning effectiveness known 100 percent accurate says dr hazem hossam doctor forensic medical authority course innocent test negative psychological effect case three defendants found unused term used court remaining three cases findings could signs medical conditions say doctors grim tests giving prosecutors nothing go main evidence bathhouse case word one police officer initial police report seen globalpost ahmed hashad colonel morality department police describes lurid detail saw men burst though entered bathhouse someone hit pause video said hossam lawyer cast doubt officers account describes detail particular sex acts names moment masked gunwielding members central security burst bathhouse160 analysts say evidence cases often irrelevant anyway judge often pronounces verdict based whether person looks effeminate gay lives ruined160 penultimate session trial began jan 5 26 defendants dragged courtroom handcuffed one another heads many covering faces hoodies scarves conceal identities verdict expected jan 12 even men found innocent much damage already done havent convicted would socially convicted says abd elhameed often seek asylum work outside country event devastating lifechanging incident many immediately fired work many kicked homes adds scandal follow whole lives even found innocent says khalifa worked many lgbt cases families come courthouse show support lives never one female family members wore face veil court normally doesnt conceal identity social stigma wronged went take steam bath first time went said mohamed brother one accused pray know god would one us asks ill court brother pronounced innocent meanwhile observers see targeting gay community part wider crackdown seen everincreasing invasion private lives egyptians seeing new kind atmosphere new kind moral policing police really concerned invading private spaces figuring whats happening private homes says long think symbolic message practical one regime well watching
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<p>Pamela Price spent months investigating scholarships and helping her college-bound son, Aaron, fill out applications; as a result, he may get a free ride all four years. Meanwhile, Jean Ray is looking at having to find $17,000 a year for her daughter Brooke’s college education. For the parents of Vernon Payne, the amount is $12,000. Angela Serrano had to settle for part-time attendance at a community college and still has to work long hours to support herself and her schooling.</p>
<p>With this installment of “The College Challenge,” Catalyst Associate Editor Debra Williams explores how these families are tackling the daunting task of paying for a college education. The four students she profiles, all freshmen, are among nine Catalyst is following in an ongoing series exploring the bumpy road many black and Latino students have to navigate to get a bachelor’s degree. (See story.)</p>
<p>Money is one of the biggest hurdles for prospective college students—particularly minority students, whose families, on average, have lower incomes and less wealth than whites. Meanwhile, increases in tuition and fees are now outpacing inflation, according to the College Board, putting the average tuition at a private university at over $16,000 per year. At public universities, the average is about $3,500. Room and board bring the total higher.</p>
<p>The Illinois Student Assistance Commission, which oversees the state’s aid programs, considers rising costs one of the two biggest barriers to higher education – the other is academic preparation for college-level work. The financial burden is particularly heavy on students who don’t complete college, the commission reports, because they do not reap the benefits of higher-paying jobs that go to college graduates. And minority students are far more likely than whites not to complete college, according to commission statistics.</p>
<p>College financial aid officers say that the tab often catches parents by surprise. For example, a survey by Washington, D.C.-based Peter D. Hart and Associates found that 82 percent of parents who planned to send their children to college had saved only $1,000 or less. Illinois is one state that has set up a special pre-paid tuition program, called College Illinois, that allows parents to pay future tuition costs now, thus avoiding future increases.</p>
<p>In Illinois, tuition historically has been somewhat higher than the national average; for 2001-2002, it’s over $4,700 at public universities and $17,000 at private institutions. (Average room and board in Illinois is about $5,150 at public universities and $6,250 at private ones.)</p>
<p>The Illinois Student Assistance Commission readily admits that its budget, set by the General Assembly, can’t keep pace. Over the past decade, Illinois tuition increases have averaged about 7 percent a year while the commission’s budget has gone up about 4 percent a year, says Public Information Officer Lauri Thull.</p>
<p>Even so, Illinois received an “A” for affordability from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, largely because its main grant program, the Monetary Award Program (MAP), is the third largest in the county, behind New York State and California.</p>
<p>Through MAP, the Illinois Student Assistance Commission this year will award $375 million—an increase of $18 million over last year—to some 141,000 students. However, a 2000 report by the commission found that while the average MAP award is increasing, many students who qualified for a grant 10 years ago likely wouldn’t make the cut today.</p>
<p>Thull explains: The commission aims to award grants that will cover a certain percentage of a student’s tuition; with costs increasing faster than the commission’s grant budget, the commission has had to cut back on the number of grants.</p>
<p>In the spring legislative session, the commission tried unsuccessfully to get an extra $12 million to expand Illinois Incentive for Access, a five-year-old program that provides grants to the neediest first-year college students, those who will receive no financial help from their families.</p>
<p>“It was designed to help first-year students get a jump-start and help them realize that college is affordable and they can do it,” says Thull. The commission wanted to double the maximum grant, to $1,000, and expand the program to students whose aid applications show they have only “minimal” resources from family.</p>
<p>“What we found was that there’s very little difference between students who have no resources and those who have just a little,” says Thull. The commission also lobbied unsuccessfully for additional money to provide MAP grants to students attending school less than half time; the agency plans to take another shot during the spring 2002 session.</p>
<p>Aaron Price</p>
<p>Scholarship champ</p>
<p>sails into Morehouse</p>
<p>On Aug. 21, Aaron Price moved into a dormitory at Morehouse College in Atlanta with the typical new-freshman jitters. “I was a little freaked out,” he concedes. But Aaron and his parents were spared a burden that weighs on many a new college student: the specter of debt looming at the end of four years.</p>
<p>“We were really fortunate,” says his mother, Pamela Price. “We don’t have to pay for anything.”</p>
<p>With foresight and diligence instilled by two college-educated parents, Aaron amassed $65,000 in scholarships to apply toward a likely bill of some $83,500 for four years of tuition, room and board at Morehouse. The family plans to go after additional scholarships to pay for the remainder.</p>
<p>“I started looking for money when I started looking for schools last fall,” says Aaron, who graduated in the top 10 percent of his class from Kenwood High in June.</p>
<p>Here’s what he received:</p>
<p>$52,400 from the United Negro College Fund</p>
<p>$4,045 from Shore Bank</p>
<p>$3,000 from Operation Push</p>
<p>A $2,000 math scholarship from Kenwood</p>
<p>A $1,000 Sara L. Spurlark Award Scholarship, named for a former Kenwood assistant principal</p>
<p>$500 each from Iota Phi Lambda, an African-American sorority, and Alpha Phi Alpha, an African-American fraternity</p>
<p>Aaron also qualified for a Golden Apple Foundation scholarship but could not accept it because he is attending an out-of-state school.</p>
<p>“We applied for everything coming and going,” says Price. “It’s all about perseverance.”</p>
<p>From the beginning, the Prices kept their ears to the ground and spread the word that they were searching. “I told Aaron to stay in touch with his counselors and to let them know his goals, where he wanted to go and that he was interested in scholarships,” says Pamela Price, chuckling. “He was in the counselor’s office every day.”</p>
<p>The strategy worked. It was a school counselor who told the family about the Spurlark Award and Kenwood’s math scholarship. Later a Kenwood teacher called the family after discovering only one student from the school had applied to the United Negro Scholarship Fund (UNCF). That teacher wanted to know why Aaron hadn’t, his mother says.</p>
<p>Last year, 33 Chicago public school students received UNCF scholarships renewable each year for four years as long as they maintain a 2.5 grade-point average, says Lisa Rollins, the director of UNCF’s Chicago office.</p>
<p>Aaron’s scholarship came from a fund that UNCF administers specifically for graduates of the Chicago Public Schools. The fund’s money comes from Chicago public school teachers. It was launched 10 years ago with a total of $8,000 in donations. Since then, it has grown to $850,000 last year and may reach over $1.1 million this year, making it UNCF’s largest work-place campaign. “This is remarkable, and it’s not nearly as publicized as it should be,” says Rollins.</p>
<p>Aaron also benefited from suggestions made by family friends, church members and civic colleagues. (The Prices are members of Operation PUSH and bank at Shore Bank.) Price’s advice to parents on the prowl for college funding: Apply for everything, regardless of the amount of time it takes.</p>
<p>“There were quite a few scholarships we didn’t receive,” says Price. “For instance, we had applied for a $5,000 Jackie Robinson scholarship [administered by the Robinson family foundation in his honor] and the Gates Millennium Scholarship,” financed by Microsoft CEO Bill Gates.</p>
<p>Aaron did not get a Gates Scholarship, aimed at minority students with the most financial need, because it is administered by UNCF. “It was one or the other,” says Price. “We couldn’t get UNCF and that one, too.” She says she isn’t sure why Aaron didn’t get the Robinson scholarship.</p>
<p>Price notes that some scholarships, like the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship, are not awarded until the junior or senior year. She says the groups that administer those scholarships want to see what students</p>
<p>can do before they give out money. When Aaron is eligible, the family will apply. Price advises parents to work on the applications with their children.</p>
<p>“You cannot leave it up to the child,” she stresses. “We sat side by side with Aaron, filling out scholarship [forms]. I checked that spelling was correct, that questions were answered correctly and fully. Your kids need you at this time, and you have to let them know that [looking for funding] is important.”</p>
<p>The scholarship hunt should be ongoing, says Price. Once students have selected a major, they may find that their own schools or private organizations award scholarships in that area. “Aaron is pretty sure he wants to major in math,” says Price. “So, I’ll start focusing on that area and look for money. If he wants to go to grad school, I’ll know what’s available.”</p>
<p>With money worries out of the way, Aaron has been able to concentrate fully on getting used to his new environment. He says his roommate is “nice and polite,” a perfect match. And he doesn’t think he’ll have a problem in any of his classes, which include college algebra, English, world history and introduction to religion.</p>
<p>And just like he did at Kenwood, he’s making sure he’s front and center. “I’ve already talked to all my professors,” says Aaron. “I want to make sure they know who I am.”</p>
<p>Brooke Ray</p>
<p>Loves USC,</p>
<p>money a concern</p>
<p>On Aug. 27, Brooke Ray attended the first day of classes at her dream college, the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Her course load includes writing, educational development, social issues and gender, and a seminar to help freshmen acclimate to campus life. “Things are going good,” she reports. “I did my first paper in writing, and I can’t wait to see how I did. I like it here.”</p>
<p>Her mother, Jean Ray, couldn’t be happier. At Orr High School, Brooke had been diligent about keeping her grades up and participating in activities so that her application to USC would stand out. “That girl really worked hard,” her mom says. “She was always involved in some activity because she wanted to go to that school.”</p>
<p>However, there is a big cloud in this picture: Covering the $36,000 annual cost of an education at USC. So far, Brooke has lined up $11,800 from a federal Perkins loan and $4,000 in scholarships, including $2,500 from Future Teachers of Chicago, $1,000 from the Westside Police Association and $500 from Orr, where she was the No. 1 student for three years and the 2001 valedictorian.</p>
<p>That leaves Jean Ray with a hefty bill of some $17,000 per year.</p>
<p>Jean Ray, a single parent who recently started a new job with longer hours and more responsibilities, regretfully acknowledges she didn’t spend much time helping her daughter find money. She also suspects that Brooke’s chances for getting financial assistance from USC were hurt because she filed aid forms late.</p>
<p>Jean Ray earns $50,000 a year as a cardiology lab technician; she also has a part-time weekend tech job. She’s not sure how she’ll cover that extra $17,000 a year.</p>
<p>“It will be a strain, but I’ll work overtime if I have to,” says Ray. ˜I want her to stay there. I don’t want to have to pull her out.”</p>
<p>Ray also has a son with college plans.</p>
<p>Kathy Thomas, the dean of financial aid at USC, says many families find themselves in Jean Ray’s position. “People are shocked by the amount, and many families are under prepared,” she says.</p>
<p>“The families that have no problems with finances for college are the very low-income families and families with unlimited financial resources,” says Thomas. “We find that it’s the families in the middle—the middle-income families—who struggle.”</p>
<p>Thomas says that in determining university aid, USC looks at parent and student assets, how many people are in the family, the age of the parent, whether there are other children in college, medical costs and the family’s federal, state and local taxes. Based on that information, the university then estimates the amount of discretionary money the family should have.</p>
<p>Thomas offers families this financing formula for tuition: Save a third, carve another third out of current income and borrow the final third. “College is an investment,” she says. “In the ideal situation, this is what parents should do to make that investment.”</p>
<p>Still, Ray believes Orr should have given her daughter more help. “Some teachers were really in her corner, but something was still lacking at that school,” she says. “I don’t believe Orr did everything it could to help her find money.”</p>
<p>For instance, Ray says that when she and Brooke attended a celebration for Chicago public school valedictorians, she discovered how much money other students were getting and was astounded. “One kid got $72,000. I didn’t know where to find scholarships, but I know the money is out there. How come the school didn’t know about these scholarships? The school should have helped her more.”</p>
<p>Brooke worked as an aide in the Orr counseling office, often handing out scholarship and financial aid forms to other students. She says she never thought to fill out some of those same forms herself.</p>
<p>Sandra Ross, the assistant to the dean of students at Orr, says she tried to steer Brooke to a historically black college, where she was sure Brooke would qualify for a United Negro College Fund Scholarship.</p>
<p>“With her background and grades, that girl could have gotten a four-year scholarship,” says Ross “I gave her the application and everything. One of our students who had a 4.0 GPA got a full UNCF scholarship, but Brooke didn’t want to do it. She was determined to go to California.”</p>
<p>At USC, Brooke has taken on a work-study job to help pay her expenses.</p>
<p>“I’m an office assistant in the admissions office,” says Brooke. “I put together folders and packages for prospective students. So far, my [work] schedule is set up in between my classes. When things are slow, I can study. I’m not having a problem juggling the two.”</p>
<p>Jean Ray says, “Brooke has always worked. On top of all her outside activities, she once worked four jobs at the same time. People don’t believe me when I tell them that, but it’s true. That’s why I don’t mind sacrificing for her. We’ll be struggling with money, but I don’t want her to have to come home. She’s such a good kid.”</p>
<p>Angela Serrano</p>
<p>One set-back</p>
<p>after another</p>
<p>In her junior year at Hubbard High, Angela Serrano decided she wanted to go to college—specifically the flag ship University of Illinois at Urbana—to study veterinary medicine. A month before she graduated, she learned she had not been accepted.</p>
<p>The shy daughter of an immigrant parent, Serrano was unaware of the steps she needed to take to fulfill her academic dream or something close to it. Then, this summer, a family health crisis took her even farther away. Today, she is enrolled part time at a community college and working full time in a hotel restaurant. But Angela is determined to get a bachelor’s degree.</p>
<p>“I look at my mother, and she’s still young,” she says. “She’s only 42 years old, and she’s had such a hard time with jobs, and now she’s hurt. I don’t want to be like that, and I don’t want to do what I’m doing now for the rest of my life.”</p>
<p>Angela’s grades and ACT scores made her a long shot for the U. of I. She says she filled out applications to 10 other schools but then didn’t mail them.</p>
<p>When the U. of I. rejection notice arrived, she says, “I thought I was going to cry.”</p>
<p>In July, she signed up for classes at Morton Community College in Cicero, just five minutes away from her home, and promised herself that she’d bring her grades up and try getting into University of Illinois at Chicago, then transferring to the Urbana campus.</p>
<p>A month later, her mother injured her spine and was scheduled for surgery; for six months or more, she’d be sidelined from her job as a banquet server in Oak Brook. Angela, who worked alongside her mother part time during the school year, would have to take on more financial responsibility at home and pay for her schooling herself.</p>
<p>“When I decided to go to Morton, I figured it wouldn’t cost that much, plus I was counting on my mom helping,” she says. “I didn’t know I’d be doing this all by myself.”</p>
<p>At Morton, Angela signed up for three classes—math, English and music history—that cost a total of $600 in tuition and books. She wanted to take five classes, but didn’t have the money.</p>
<p>Angela brings home close to $1,200 a month in wages and tips. Monthly payments on her used car, car insurance, cell phone, groceries and a small debt come close to $600, leaving her only $600 for entry into college. Angela and her mother currently live with her uncle, so, at the moment, don’t have to worry about rent and utilities. However, she says that because of family issues, that could change.</p>
<p>Angela may well qualify for financial aid, including a $500 grant from Illinois Incentive for Access, a state program aimed at first-time college students who have no family resources to help them pay for college. At Hubbard, Angela talked with a counselor about applying to college but didn’t raise the issue of money. At Morton, she got information but didn’t follow through.</p>
<p>“When I went to register for classes, someone told me to go to Financial Aid to apply for financial aid, and I did, but I didn’t turn them in,” she says. “I</p>
<p>didn’t think I’d get anything. Now I’ll turn them in.”</p>
<p>Without additional money to pay for additional courses, Angela faces a long haul. “At the rate I’m going, I’ll be in school forever,” she says.</p>
<p>She wants to work more but would probably have to find a different job to make the scheduling work, she says.</p>
<p>Angela’s first week of school was August 20. She got disappointing news right away: The results of placement tests put her in remedial classes in both math and English, which pushed her goal even farther away.</p>
<p>“These courses are to help build students up to college-level courses,” says Lori Rabehl of Morton’s counseling and testing center. “They are developmental and skill-building courses, and even Morton does not count them toward a degree. After a semester, students can go to basic college-level courses.”</p>
<p>According to Rabehl, 65 percent of Morton students are enrolled in remedial English classes, and 75 percent are in remedial math.</p>
<p>“At first, I was really upset because it was like starting all over again,” says Angela, who graduated from Hubbard with a grade-point average of 2.24 on a 4-point scale. “But I know this is what I need.” She hopes to work her way up to college level courses after one semester.</p>
<p>After her first week of class, Angela reports doing well. “My mind is getting refreshed. I’m remembering stuff I’d forgotten. My classes are a little too easy, especially the math. I feel pretty good right now, because I am in school.”</p>
<p>But she still feels like she’s in foreign territory. “I’m really not sure how this whole college thing works,” she says. “Do you take two semesters of each class? I don’t know these things. College is a lot different from high school. I’m going to have to talk to a counselor again.”</p>
<p>Says Krueger, “Most of our students are part time, like Angela, [and] also plan to attend four-year colleges. However, we let students know they have options. For one, they can complete an associate’s degree in a year or a year and a half and enter the job field then. Many of our kids [then] start out in manager level positions.”</p>
<p>That’s not something Angela wants to think about. She’s holding tight to her goal of transferring to the U. of I. and becoming a veterinarian.</p>
<p>“This is still something I want to do,” says Angela. “I don’t want to think about doing something else, not yet anyway.”</p>
<p>Vernon Payne</p>
<p>Getting organized</p>
<p>the biggest challenge</p>
<p>Vernon Payne has no financial worries as he anticipates his first year studying art at Columbia College Chicago. His parents plan to pick up the $12,000-plus annual tab to attend the private arts-and-media college full time.</p>
<p>“We’ll do whatever is necessary—work overtime, pull down an annuity. We’ll pay his tuition,” says his mother, Theodosia Payne, a Chicago public school special education teacher. Vernon’s father is a Chicago police officer.</p>
<p>However, Vernon is having difficulty with some other requisites: organization and preparation. As a so-so student at Morgan Park High School, Vernon focused on art, paying scant attention to certain tough academics and other basics, such as showing up to class on time and completing homework. He did virtually no advance planning for college. Not knowing where Vernon might be attending school, his family did no planning on the money side.</p>
<p>Columbia has an open-admissions policy—anyone with a high school diploma can enroll—and allows prospective students to register up to the first day of classes, on Sept. 24 this year. At Catalyst press time in mid-September, Vernon still hadn’t registered, saying someone at the school gave him the wrong date—students are assigned dates based on the first initial of their last name.</p>
<p>He was planning to try again just before school begins. According to officials at Columbia, he’ll have plenty of company.</p>
<p>“Our late registrations are pretty healthy,” says Carol Bryant of Columbia’s media relations office. “We do find that our students tend to hem-haw. This year, one-third of our students have yet to register.”</p>
<p>The reasons? Bryant offers a couple: Many students come from backgrounds where college is not a tradition, so they have no role models at home. Many come from schools where counselors are so bogged down that they have not taken time to explain college expectations.</p>
<p>To accommodate such students, Columbia offers some late registration, even after classes begin. This year, Bryant adds, the school has added an orientation to help students make the transition from high school.</p>
<p>“Students will meet in fairly small groups and meet other students who will be studying in the same area,” she explains.</p>
<p>Columbia also requires all freshmen to enroll in a freshman seminar to help them decide on a major, to expose them to different areas of study and to develop writing, math and other skills they will need in higher-level courses.</p>
<p>All freshmen also will be assigned to counselors from the school’s new freshman office, created to help freshmen stay in school.</p>
<p>In the meantime, Vernon is looking forward to starting school. “I’ll make sure I register on the right day this time. I’ve always wanted to go to Columbia.”</p>
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pamela price spent months investigating scholarships helping collegebound son aaron fill applications result may get free ride four years meanwhile jean ray looking find 17000 year daughter brookes college education parents vernon payne amount 12000 angela serrano settle parttime attendance community college still work long hours support schooling installment college challenge catalyst associate editor debra williams explores families tackling daunting task paying college education four students profiles freshmen among nine catalyst following ongoing series exploring bumpy road many black latino students navigate get bachelors degree see story money one biggest hurdles prospective college studentsparticularly minority students whose families average lower incomes less wealth whites meanwhile increases tuition fees outpacing inflation according college board putting average tuition private university 16000 per year public universities average 3500 room board bring total higher illinois student assistance commission oversees states aid programs considers rising costs one two biggest barriers higher education academic preparation collegelevel work financial burden particularly heavy students dont complete college commission reports reap benefits higherpaying jobs go college graduates minority students far likely whites complete college according commission statistics college financial aid officers say tab often catches parents surprise example survey washington dcbased peter hart associates found 82 percent parents planned send children college saved 1000 less illinois one state set special prepaid tuition program called college illinois allows parents pay future tuition costs thus avoiding future increases illinois tuition historically somewhat higher national average 20012002 4700 public universities 17000 private institutions average room board illinois 5150 public universities 6250 private ones illinois student assistance commission readily admits budget set general assembly cant keep pace past decade illinois tuition increases averaged 7 percent year commissions budget gone 4 percent year says public information officer lauri thull even illinois received affordability national center public policy higher education largely main grant program monetary award program map third largest county behind new york state california map illinois student assistance commission year award 375 millionan increase 18 million last yearto 141000 students however 2000 report commission found average map award increasing many students qualified grant 10 years ago likely wouldnt make cut today thull explains commission aims award grants cover certain percentage students tuition costs increasing faster commissions grant budget commission cut back number grants spring legislative session commission tried unsuccessfully get extra 12 million expand illinois incentive access fiveyearold program provides grants neediest firstyear college students receive financial help families designed help firstyear students get jumpstart help realize college affordable says thull commission wanted double maximum grant 1000 expand program students whose aid applications show minimal resources family found theres little difference students resources little says thull commission also lobbied unsuccessfully additional money provide map grants students attending school less half time agency plans take another shot spring 2002 session aaron price scholarship champ sails morehouse aug 21 aaron price moved dormitory morehouse college atlanta typical newfreshman jitters little freaked concedes aaron parents spared burden weighs many new college student specter debt looming end four years really fortunate says mother pamela price dont pay anything foresight diligence instilled two collegeeducated parents aaron amassed 65000 scholarships apply toward likely bill 83500 four years tuition room board morehouse family plans go additional scholarships pay remainder started looking money started looking schools last fall says aaron graduated top 10 percent class kenwood high june heres received 52400 united negro college fund 4045 shore bank 3000 operation push 2000 math scholarship kenwood 1000 sara l spurlark award scholarship named former kenwood assistant principal 500 iota phi lambda africanamerican sorority alpha phi alpha africanamerican fraternity aaron also qualified golden apple foundation scholarship could accept attending outofstate school applied everything coming going says price perseverance beginning prices kept ears ground spread word searching told aaron stay touch counselors let know goals wanted go interested scholarships says pamela price chuckling counselors office every day strategy worked school counselor told family spurlark award kenwoods math scholarship later kenwood teacher called family discovering one student school applied united negro scholarship fund uncf teacher wanted know aaron hadnt mother says last year 33 chicago public school students received uncf scholarships renewable year four years long maintain 25 gradepoint average says lisa rollins director uncfs chicago office aarons scholarship came fund uncf administers specifically graduates chicago public schools funds money comes chicago public school teachers launched 10 years ago total 8000 donations since grown 850000 last year may reach 11 million year making uncfs largest workplace campaign remarkable nearly publicized says rollins aaron also benefited suggestions made family friends church members civic colleagues prices members operation push bank shore bank prices advice parents prowl college funding apply everything regardless amount time takes quite scholarships didnt receive says price instance applied 5000 jackie robinson scholarship administered robinson family foundation honor gates millennium scholarship financed microsoft ceo bill gates aaron get gates scholarship aimed minority students financial need administered uncf one says price couldnt get uncf one says isnt sure aaron didnt get robinson scholarship price notes scholarships like thurgood marshall scholarship awarded junior senior year says groups administer scholarships want see students give money aaron eligible family apply price advises parents work applications children leave child stresses sat side side aaron filling scholarship forms checked spelling correct questions answered correctly fully kids need time let know looking funding important scholarship hunt ongoing says price students selected major may find schools private organizations award scholarships area aaron pretty sure wants major math says price ill start focusing area look money wants go grad school ill know whats available money worries way aaron able concentrate fully getting used new environment says roommate nice polite perfect match doesnt think hell problem classes include college algebra english world history introduction religion like kenwood hes making sure hes front center ive already talked professors says aaron want make sure know brooke ray loves usc money concern aug 27 brooke ray attended first day classes dream college university southern california los angeles course load includes writing educational development social issues gender seminar help freshmen acclimate campus life things going good reports first paper writing cant wait see like mother jean ray couldnt happier orr high school brooke diligent keeping grades participating activities application usc would stand girl really worked hard mom says always involved activity wanted go school however big cloud picture covering 36000 annual cost education usc far brooke lined 11800 federal perkins loan 4000 scholarships including 2500 future teachers chicago 1000 westside police association 500 orr 1 student three years 2001 valedictorian leaves jean ray hefty bill 17000 per year jean ray single parent recently started new job longer hours responsibilities regretfully acknowledges didnt spend much time helping daughter find money also suspects brookes chances getting financial assistance usc hurt filed aid forms late jean ray earns 50000 year cardiology lab technician also parttime weekend tech job shes sure shell cover extra 17000 year strain ill work overtime says ray want stay dont want pull ray also son college plans kathy thomas dean financial aid usc says many families find jean rays position people shocked amount many families prepared says families problems finances college lowincome families families unlimited financial resources says thomas find families middlethe middleincome familieswho struggle thomas says determining university aid usc looks parent student assets many people family age parent whether children college medical costs familys federal state local taxes based information university estimates amount discretionary money family thomas offers families financing formula tuition save third carve another third current income borrow final third college investment says ideal situation parents make investment still ray believes orr given daughter help teachers really corner something still lacking school says dont believe orr everything could help find money instance ray says brooke attended celebration chicago public school valedictorians discovered much money students getting astounded one kid got 72000 didnt know find scholarships know money come school didnt know scholarships school helped brooke worked aide orr counseling office often handing scholarship financial aid forms students says never thought fill forms sandra ross assistant dean students orr says tried steer brooke historically black college sure brooke would qualify united negro college fund scholarship background grades girl could gotten fouryear scholarship says ross gave application everything one students 40 gpa got full uncf scholarship brooke didnt want determined go california usc brooke taken workstudy job help pay expenses im office assistant admissions office says brooke put together folders packages prospective students far work schedule set classes things slow study im problem juggling two jean ray says brooke always worked top outside activities worked four jobs time people dont believe tell true thats dont mind sacrificing well struggling money dont want come home shes good kid angela serrano one setback another junior year hubbard high angela serrano decided wanted go collegespecifically flag ship university illinois urbanato study veterinary medicine month graduated learned accepted shy daughter immigrant parent serrano unaware steps needed take fulfill academic dream something close summer family health crisis took even farther away today enrolled part time community college working full time hotel restaurant angela determined get bachelors degree look mother shes still young says shes 42 years old shes hard time jobs shes hurt dont want like dont want im rest life angelas grades act scores made long shot u says filled applications 10 schools didnt mail u rejection notice arrived says thought going cry july signed classes morton community college cicero five minutes away home promised shed bring grades try getting university illinois chicago transferring urbana campus month later mother injured spine scheduled surgery six months shed sidelined job banquet server oak brook angela worked alongside mother part time school year would take financial responsibility home pay schooling decided go morton figured wouldnt cost much plus counting mom helping says didnt know id morton angela signed three classesmath english music historythat cost total 600 tuition books wanted take five classes didnt money angela brings home close 1200 month wages tips monthly payments used car car insurance cell phone groceries small debt come close 600 leaving 600 entry college angela mother currently live uncle moment dont worry rent utilities however says family issues could change angela may well qualify financial aid including 500 grant illinois incentive access state program aimed firsttime college students family resources help pay college hubbard angela talked counselor applying college didnt raise issue money morton got information didnt follow went register classes someone told go financial aid apply financial aid didnt turn says didnt think id get anything ill turn without additional money pay additional courses angela faces long haul rate im going ill school forever says wants work would probably find different job make scheduling work says angelas first week school august 20 got disappointing news right away results placement tests put remedial classes math english pushed goal even farther away courses help build students collegelevel courses says lori rabehl mortons counseling testing center developmental skillbuilding courses even morton count toward degree semester students go basic collegelevel courses according rabehl 65 percent morton students enrolled remedial english classes 75 percent remedial math first really upset like starting says angela graduated hubbard gradepoint average 224 4point scale know need hopes work way college level courses one semester first week class angela reports well mind getting refreshed im remembering stuff id forgotten classes little easy especially math feel pretty good right school still feels like shes foreign territory im really sure whole college thing works says take two semesters class dont know things college lot different high school im going talk counselor says krueger students part time like angela also plan attend fouryear colleges however let students know options one complete associates degree year year half enter job field many kids start manager level positions thats something angela wants think shes holding tight goal transferring u becoming veterinarian still something want says angela dont want think something else yet anyway vernon payne getting organized biggest challenge vernon payne financial worries anticipates first year studying art columbia college chicago parents plan pick 12000plus annual tab attend private artsandmedia college full time well whatever necessarywork overtime pull annuity well pay tuition says mother theodosia payne chicago public school special education teacher vernons father chicago police officer however vernon difficulty requisites organization preparation soso student morgan park high school vernon focused art paying scant attention certain tough academics basics showing class time completing homework virtually advance planning college knowing vernon might attending school family planning money side columbia openadmissions policyanyone high school diploma enrolland allows prospective students register first day classes sept 24 year catalyst press time midseptember vernon still hadnt registered saying someone school gave wrong datestudents assigned dates based first initial last name planning try school begins according officials columbia hell plenty company late registrations pretty healthy says carol bryant columbias media relations office find students tend hemhaw year onethird students yet register reasons bryant offers couple many students come backgrounds college tradition role models home many come schools counselors bogged taken time explain college expectations accommodate students columbia offers late registration even classes begin year bryant adds school added orientation help students make transition high school students meet fairly small groups meet students studying area explains columbia also requires freshmen enroll freshman seminar help decide major expose different areas study develop writing math skills need higherlevel courses freshmen also assigned counselors schools new freshman office created help freshmen stay school meantime vernon looking forward starting school ill make sure register right day time ive always wanted go columbia
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<p>SANAA, Yemen — In an unassuming mosque, adorned only with graffiti and ancient stained-glass windows, about 30 women and children sat on the floor, listening to a sermon. The women wore black robes, but the veils that usually covered their faces were flipped up.</p>
<p>They listened to Imam Sami al-Fayek on a speaker, while the men congregated downstairs. The imam spoke of the war in northern Yemen, and his hope that the government would end it.</p>
<p>“We ask God to make them stop,” he said, “Because a lot of people have been killed.”</p>
<p>When the imam finished his thoughts, he began the traditional melodic Friday prayers. The women sat up, cupped their hands in front of them and responded gently, asking God to forgive them their sins. When the service ended, they turned to each other, shook hands affectionately, and said “Assalam alykum,” peace be upon you.</p>
<p>Later in the afternoon, in a crisp white thobe and black turban, al-Fayek stood outside the beige brick building talking to friends and neighbors in the bright sun. He was grateful, he said, because the capital Sanaa is peaceful. “Here, in our area, it is safe.”</p>
<p>That sense of security is rare in a country that is facing a Shiite insurgency, a secessionist movement in the south, a looming water crisis and crushing poverty. And now the government is shifting its focus to fighting Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, a Yemen-based offshoot of Osama bin Laden’s organization.</p>
<p>The capital Sanaa, surrounded by mountains, has been one of the few places that escaped the strife plaguing other regions of the country. But the mood in the mosques and markets reflects the city's unease about what the new-found focus on Al Qaeda might bring. Many in this small, desperately poor country are afraid they will become collateral damage in the next front of America's "war on terror."</p>
<p>“Everybody is worried about the future,” said Ammar al-Maktri, an accountant who is friends with al-Fayek. “About Al Qaeda and the Americans.”</p>
<p>Al-Maktri, like many Yemenis, has followed the events in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan on the news. He believes that if the U.S. tries to battle it out with Al Qaeda in Yemen, it will be the Yemeni people who suffer most.</p>
<p>For weeks now, the chatter on the streets of Sanaa has focused on just how far the U.S. intends to go in this fight.</p>
<p>In December, U.S.-ordered air strikes killed at least 60 suspected Al Qaeda militants, Yemeni officials said. And since a Nigerian born radical, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, tried to blow up a plane over Detroit after living in Yemen, it has become clear that the U.S. intends to retaliate.</p>
<p>Despite the fears in Sanaa, it is very unlikely that there will be a significant U.S. military presence in Yemen, said Steve Heydemann, a vice-president at the U.S. Institute of Peace and a specialist in Arabic politics. Yemeni officials say U.S. soldiers would strengthen Al Qaeda by drawing Islamic extremists from abroad, and growing anti-Western sentiments at home.</p>
<p>It remains unclear though what form U.S. involvement might take, with options including aid, intelligence support and special operations. The current military presence in Yemen is small, limited to technical support, training and help with intelligence.</p>
<p>Other experts say even successful, low key special operations designed to target Al Qaeda leadership could strengthen anti-Western sentiment. Some kind of action on the ground appears to be inevitable, said Garry Clifford, a political science professor and foreign policy specialist at the University of Connecticut. There is no “loud drum beat” in the U.S. to send troops to Yemen, but a “persistent angry feeling that we ought to do something to retaliate,” he wrote in an email.</p>
<p>Outside the mosque, a small crowd gathered to discuss what is perceived as the looming possibility of greater U.S. military presence in Yemen.&#160;</p>
<p>American soldiers could become targets, said a local police cheif Tofik al-Jawfi, which would ruin the two nations’ friendly relationship. He said he could not stand the idea of foreigners coming to Yemen and getting hurt. “Between us and America are good relations,” he said. “They are our brothers.”</p>
<p>Al-Jawfi said the Yemeni army has more than enough resources to defeat Al Qaeda, and, in a pinch, the Yemeni population is heavily armed. “All Yemeni people have four or five guns in the house,” he said.</p>
<p>Yemenis insisted that reports are overblown about the dangers of life in their country.</p>
<p>In Sanaa’s medieval Old City, on the serene rooftop of Center for Arabic Language and Eastern Studies, Administrative Director Mohammad Saleh Risk said the media scares people away by only presenting one aspect of the country.</p>
<p>“New students are not coming,” Risk said. “They imagine Yemen is just a terrorist place.”</p>
<p>But Risk too said he was afraid of U.S. military involvement in Yemen. “People know what happened in Afghanistan and Iraq,” he said. “We don’t want [the Americans] to make the same mistake here.”</p>
<p>About half of the 23 million people in Yemen are under 15 years old, and young people — even those with a good education — have a hard time finding work. According to the CIA Factbook, 35 percent of the adults in Yemen are out of work.</p>
<p>“There are other things that could kill terrorism,” he said. “Young people have no jobs, and the government should fix it.”</p>
<p>In the cobblestone market bellow, 17-year-old Ahlam Aharhan agreed that young people are more likely to turn to extremism when they cannot find work. With bright brown eyes peaking out of her black veil, Aharhan seemed surprised when asked what she thought of America’s relationship with Yemen.</p>
<p>“Everybody should stay in his own country,” she said.</p>
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sanaa yemen unassuming mosque adorned graffiti ancient stainedglass windows 30 women children sat floor listening sermon women wore black robes veils usually covered faces flipped listened imam sami alfayek speaker men congregated downstairs imam spoke war northern yemen hope government would end ask god make stop said lot people killed imam finished thoughts began traditional melodic friday prayers women sat cupped hands front responded gently asking god forgive sins service ended turned shook hands affectionately said assalam alykum peace upon later afternoon crisp white thobe black turban alfayek stood outside beige brick building talking friends neighbors bright sun grateful said capital sanaa peaceful area safe sense security rare country facing shiite insurgency secessionist movement south looming water crisis crushing poverty government shifting focus fighting al qaeda arabian peninsula yemenbased offshoot osama bin ladens organization capital sanaa surrounded mountains one places escaped strife plaguing regions country mood mosques markets reflects citys unease newfound focus al qaeda might bring many small desperately poor country afraid become collateral damage next front americas war terror everybody worried future said ammar almaktri accountant friends alfayek al qaeda americans almaktri like many yemenis followed events iraq afghanistan pakistan news believes us tries battle al qaeda yemen yemeni people suffer weeks chatter streets sanaa focused far us intends go fight december usordered air strikes killed least 60 suspected al qaeda militants yemeni officials said since nigerian born radical umar farouk abdulmutallab tried blow plane detroit living yemen become clear us intends retaliate despite fears sanaa unlikely significant us military presence yemen said steve heydemann vicepresident us institute peace specialist arabic politics yemeni officials say us soldiers would strengthen al qaeda drawing islamic extremists abroad growing antiwestern sentiments home remains unclear though form us involvement might take options including aid intelligence support special operations current military presence yemen small limited technical support training help intelligence experts say even successful low key special operations designed target al qaeda leadership could strengthen antiwestern sentiment kind action ground appears inevitable said garry clifford political science professor foreign policy specialist university connecticut loud drum beat us send troops yemen persistent angry feeling ought something retaliate wrote email outside mosque small crowd gathered discuss perceived looming possibility greater us military presence yemen160 american soldiers could become targets said local police cheif tofik aljawfi would ruin two nations friendly relationship said could stand idea foreigners coming yemen getting hurt us america good relations said brothers aljawfi said yemeni army enough resources defeat al qaeda pinch yemeni population heavily armed yemeni people four five guns house said yemenis insisted reports overblown dangers life country sanaas medieval old city serene rooftop center arabic language eastern studies administrative director mohammad saleh risk said media scares people away presenting one aspect country new students coming risk said imagine yemen terrorist place risk said afraid us military involvement yemen people know happened afghanistan iraq said dont want americans make mistake half 23 million people yemen 15 years old young people even good education hard time finding work according cia factbook 35 percent adults yemen work things could kill terrorism said young people jobs government fix cobblestone market bellow 17yearold ahlam aharhan agreed young people likely turn extremism find work bright brown eyes peaking black veil aharhan seemed surprised asked thought americas relationship yemen everybody stay country said
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<p>It’s a wet Friday afternoon in suburban west London, and newlyweds Mona Dohle and Syed Bokhari are packing to set off on their honeymoon in a few hours. But there is something a little unusual about their holiday plans.</p>
<p>Stacked high in the hallway are 400 cans of kidney beans, another 400 &#160;of tuna, 7,500 tea bags&#160;and 265 pound of sugar. Upstairs, there are enough sanitary towels for 400 women.</p>
<p>This trip will not be a conventional romantic getaway.</p>
<p>Weeks ago, Mona and Syed started an online campaign to raise money for the thousands of migrants now living in a makeshift camp known as the 'Jungle'&#160;near the French port of Calais. Most of the people are sleeping outside, in terrible conditions, hoping for a chance to cross the channel tunnel into Britain. And for weeks, British TV has been filled with footage of migrants climbing the fences around the tunnel and slipping into trucks heading to southern England. There have been calls for police crackdowns, higher fences and tougher border security. Prime Minister David Cameron famously described the migrants in the camp as a "swarm."</p>
<p>Originally, the couple’s plan was to drive to France in their car and deliver a small amount of food and clothes to the camp. &#160;But the donations kept coming. Now the project has blossomed&#160;into a convoy of seven cars and 14 volunteers.</p>
<p>Sitting on a pile of sugar bags in Syed’s mother’s bedroom, Mona tells me that it is a sign of how some British people are tired of hearing anti-immigrant messages on TV and in the news. “The more publicity there was&#160;in the media against the immigrants, the more movement there was to organize aid convoys,” she says. “This isn’t just a charity appeal —&#160;this is a response to a political crisis."</p>
<p>Mona is German, and she says she feels the privilege that her European passport grants her every time she travels back.</p>
<p>In the house there’s an air of good-natured crisis; Syed tells me that organizing things doesn’t really come naturally to any of them. And some of the donations they’ve received have been well meant, but a little off. For example: a bunch of DVDs that were donated.&#160; Syed explains that there is no electricity in the camp. Or the holistic alarm clock that wakes you up by simulating sunlight. Lack of sunlight is not a big problem for people sleeping outside. Syed walks past me carrying a small green cardboard box, with the words "Transgender Aid Package"&#160;written carefully. He explains that it was a very heartfelt donation from a British activist, but no one is sure whether there are in fact any transgendered people in the camp. Perhaps it could be given to a woman who was designated female at birth instead? No one knows, and the package is put in one of the cars as well.&#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160; &#160;</p>
<p>We set off. Syed is worried about his car’s suspension under all the extra weight.&#160;Mona asks him not to take any sudden right-hand turns in case one of the sugar bags on the seat next to her hits her in the head: “Don’t kill your wife!”</p>
<p>She also says she assumes the police are watching the convoy. Recently a local police officer viewed her LinkedIn profile for the first time. He probably was not aware that the site lets you know who has viewed you at any given time. “I thought of endorsing his LinkedIn profile for ‘Investigation Skills,’” she tells me,&#160;“but that might not be the best plan.”</p>
<p>As we near the English south coast, Syed gets talking about why the situation in Calais hits home for him in particular.&#160;When and his family first arrived in England, they were asylum seekers themselves, fleeing from persecution in Pakistan. He arrived with his parents when he was 6, and was eventually granted British citizenship: &#160;“We came over in the early 90s —&#160;I remember the whole process. At the time the language used was "bogus asylum seekers"&#160;—&#160;and I grew up with that. So it is personal for me in that sense.” He pauses. “And now, those people coming from Syria have escaped a far greater tragedy. I kind of feel&#160;I need to do&#160;something myself.”</p>
<p>We take the late-night ferry to France, and wake up the next day to a damp morning in Calais. All the volunteers in the convoy gather in an old church hall being used by a French charity to store donations. French aid workers have warned us not to turn up at the gates of the camp unannounced and start giving out food: when other groups have done that, it has been an invitation to chaos, with the strongest taking all the goods. So first everything needs to be painstakingly divided up into parcels.</p>
<p>Syed organizes a production line, and people make "Breaking Bad" jokes as the volunteers start pouring sugar into plastic baggies. Outside the church hall, a few migrants from Sudan and Iran have gathered to ask for clothes. The French charity is officially closed today, but the group gives them shoes, trousers and bottles of milk.</p>
<p>There is nervous laughter as the convoy sets off towards the outskirts of Calais and the entry point to the camp. As we approach, we can see that French volunteers are already distributing food, and a line about 100&#160;long stretches deep into the camp. Syed tells Mona that these people have already passed the first test of Britishness, a willingness to line up&#160;in an orderly fashion.</p>
<p>As Syed talks to a man from Pakistan in Urdu, I&#160;stand on the top of a small hill&#160;watching the volunteers pass out the bags.</p>
<p>Tired faces from all over the world stand patiently waiting for the same packets of dates, sugar and tea that yesterday were sitting in a front hall in London. After the last bag is gone Mona hugs Syed. Syed tells me it was all worth it. “You can see people smiling. We need more of this. We’re coming back.”</p>
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wet friday afternoon suburban west london newlyweds mona dohle syed bokhari packing set honeymoon hours something little unusual holiday plans stacked high hallway 400 cans kidney beans another 400 160of tuna 7500 tea bags160and 265 pound sugar upstairs enough sanitary towels 400 women trip conventional romantic getaway weeks ago mona syed started online campaign raise money thousands migrants living makeshift camp known jungle160near french port calais people sleeping outside terrible conditions hoping chance cross channel tunnel britain weeks british tv filled footage migrants climbing fences around tunnel slipping trucks heading southern england calls police crackdowns higher fences tougher border security prime minister david cameron famously described migrants camp swarm originally couples plan drive france car deliver small amount food clothes camp 160but donations kept coming project blossomed160into convoy seven cars 14 volunteers sitting pile sugar bags syeds mothers bedroom mona tells sign british people tired hearing antiimmigrant messages tv news publicity was160in media immigrants movement organize aid convoys says isnt charity appeal 160this response political crisis mona german says feels privilege european passport grants every time travels back house theres air goodnatured crisis syed tells organizing things doesnt really come naturally donations theyve received well meant little example bunch dvds donated160 syed explains electricity camp holistic alarm clock wakes simulating sunlight lack sunlight big problem people sleeping outside syed walks past carrying small green cardboard box words transgender aid package160written carefully explains heartfelt donation british activist one sure whether fact transgendered people camp perhaps could given woman designated female birth instead one knows package put one cars well160 160 160 160 160 160 set syed worried cars suspension extra weight160mona asks take sudden righthand turns case one sugar bags seat next hits head dont kill wife also says assumes police watching convoy recently local police officer viewed linkedin profile first time probably aware site lets know viewed given time thought endorsing linkedin profile investigation skills tells me160but might best plan near english south coast syed gets talking situation calais hits home particular160when family first arrived england asylum seekers fleeing persecution pakistan arrived parents 6 eventually granted british citizenship 160we came early 90s 160i remember whole process time language used bogus asylum seekers160160and grew personal sense pauses people coming syria escaped far greater tragedy kind feel160i need do160something take latenight ferry france wake next day damp morning calais volunteers convoy gather old church hall used french charity store donations french aid workers warned us turn gates camp unannounced start giving food groups done invitation chaos strongest taking goods first everything needs painstakingly divided parcels syed organizes production line people make breaking bad jokes volunteers start pouring sugar plastic baggies outside church hall migrants sudan iran gathered ask clothes french charity officially closed today group gives shoes trousers bottles milk nervous laughter convoy sets towards outskirts calais entry point camp approach see french volunteers already distributing food line 100160long stretches deep camp syed tells mona people already passed first test britishness willingness line up160in orderly fashion syed talks man pakistan urdu i160stand top small hill160watching volunteers pass bags tired faces world stand patiently waiting packets dates sugar tea yesterday sitting front hall london last bag gone mona hugs syed syed tells worth see people smiling need coming back
| 536 |
<p>BERLIN, Germany — The November day 20 years ago dawned chilly and gray. For J.D. Bindenagel it would turn out to be a day unlike any other.</p>
<p>Twenty years ago, the Cold War neatly bisected the world into two nuclear-armed camps. Berlin, with its brooding wall, was the front line, and Bindenagel, as deputy U.S. ambassador to East Germany, was accustomed to the protocols of operating behind enemy lines.</p>
<p>The East German secret police tapped his phone and kept him and his family under close surveillance. “Back then, we were living in the heart of the evil empire,” he joked.</p>
<p>On Nov. 9, 1989, the tension was palpable. Poland and Hungary had already spun out of the Soviet orbit. Peaceful demonstrations in the East German cities of Leipzig and Dresden were growing larger and more vociferous. Thousands of East Germans were fleeing to the West via the newly opened border between Hungary and Austria.</p>
<p>Would the East German government crack down? Would the Soviets?</p>
<p>Those questions hung in the air at a reception late that afternoon hosted by the Aspen Institute Berlin. One of the attendees was Wolfgang Vogel, the famous East German spy-swap lawyer who often served as a contact point between the two Germanys. Afterward, Bindenagel offered to give Vogel a lift to his car, eager for the opportunity to glean whatever information the East German insider might be willing to share about the deepening crisis.</p>
<p>Vogel told him that the East German government was planning to buy time by easing travel restrictions on its citizens. An announcement was expected in a few days.</p>
<p>Bindenagel rushed back to the embassy to share his hot piece of news. This was about 7:30 in the evening, but Vogel’s revelation had already been overtaken by events.</p>
<p>Just a few minutes earlier, Gunter Schabowski, the East German government spokesman, stunned the world by announcing that his countrymen were now free to travel to the West. When Schabowski&#160; was asked when the changes would go into effect, the German ad-libbed. “Immediately,” he said.</p>
<p>A small crowd of East Germans gathered at Checkpoint Charlie, but they were blocked by police who insisted that exit visas were still required.</p>
<p>On his way home that evening, Bindenagel noticed a larger crowd beginning to build at the Bornholmerstrasse checkpoint near his home in the Pankow district. This particular crossing consisted of a bridge that straddled the S-Bahn tracks. The classic Cold War scene was illuminated by the lights of a television crew on the West Berlin side.</p>
<p>The crowd was good-natured, but East German border guards had shoot-to-kill orders.</p>
<p>“I’m thinking this isn’t good, but whatever it is, it’s going to be on television,” said Bindenagel, who rushed through the last blocks home and turned on the television.</p>
<p>Unbeknown to the Americans, the shoot-to-kill orders had been suspended a few weeks earlier, and with no new instructions from the rapidly collapsing East German government, the befuddled border guards decided to let people through. The wall was breached. Scenes of jubilation were flashed around the world.</p>
<p>Among those in the happy mob at the Bornholmerstasse crossing was an earnest young university physicist named Angela Merkel. She was on her way home from an evening out with friends, and — somewhat uncharacteristically — got caught up in the euphoria of the moment and went across the border.</p>
<p>Merkel, of course, would later become Germany’s <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/germany/091002/angela-merkel-chancellor" type="external">first female chancellor</a>, and the first from the former East Germany to hold the job.</p>
<p>In an interview with journalists last week, Merkel described the dramatic demise of the Cold War’s most potent symbol as a stroke of good fortune. But she also noted that it was a shattering experience for one generation of East Germans who endured the worst of the communist system but were too old to reap the benefits of a reunited Germany.</p>
<p>These days in Berlin, you have to look hard to find traces of the wall. Near the former Bornholmerstrasse Checkpoint, there are some significant stretches still standing — covered with graffiti, none of it political. The nearby barracks that housed East German border guards have been razed. The area is now a parking lot.</p>
<p>A memorial plaque on the bridge says that this is where the wall was first breached. The plaque is covered with graffiti. The post-war apartment blocks in Pankow still retain a whiff of their former East German shoddiness, but you can no longer find any Trabants parked on the streets.</p>
<p>On Monday, Germany and the rest of the Western alliance will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the wall. Daniel Barenboim and Bon Jovi will perform at the Brandenburg Gate. Merkel, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, among others, will speak. A row of eight-foot high dominoes has been set up along the path of the now vanished wall. They will be toppled at the appropriate moment.</p>
<p>Much has been written about the significance and symbolism of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Cold War was brought to a non-nuclear conclusion. Germany is whole and peaceful. And after a rocky start, the eastern half of Germany has made significant strides toward catching up with the western half.</p>
<p>But what is perhaps most significant about the events of Nov. 9, 1989, is that after Europe’s most fiercely guarded border collapsed, most of the other national borders of Europe also became obsolete.</p>
<p>Two days after the wall fell, Bindenagel and his family joined the swelling ranks of the delighted Berliners who went back and forth between the two halves of their city. After crossing to the West, Bindenagel said that his return to the East felt like entering a “twilight zone.”</p>
<p>Without the Berlin Wall, the government of East Germany no longer had any purpose and it quickly faded to oblivion. That was to be expected.</p>
<p>Then within the next two decades, the borders between Germany and Poland and Germany and France also faded — an astonishing accomplishment given the brutal history of the 20th century. In today’s European Union you can drive from Lisbon to Lublin without anyone asking to see your passport.</p>
<p>But Europe still has it walls. The East German government erected the Berlin Wall to keep its own citizens from getting out. The EU has erected a discreet but extremely effective wall along its eastern frontier to keep non-citizens from getting in.</p>
<p>This new wall doesn’t have watchtowers or electrified fences or guards with shoot-to-kill orders. It’s a “smart” wall with electronic sensors and other high-tech gadgetry designed to catch trespassers.</p>
<p>It may lack the in-your-face symbolic punch of the Berlin Wall, but as far as walls go, it does the job.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
| false | 3 |
berlin germany november day 20 years ago dawned chilly gray jd bindenagel would turn day unlike twenty years ago cold war neatly bisected world two nucleararmed camps berlin brooding wall front line bindenagel deputy us ambassador east germany accustomed protocols operating behind enemy lines east german secret police tapped phone kept family close surveillance back living heart evil empire joked nov 9 1989 tension palpable poland hungary already spun soviet orbit peaceful demonstrations east german cities leipzig dresden growing larger vociferous thousands east germans fleeing west via newly opened border hungary austria would east german government crack would soviets questions hung air reception late afternoon hosted aspen institute berlin one attendees wolfgang vogel famous east german spyswap lawyer often served contact point two germanys afterward bindenagel offered give vogel lift car eager opportunity glean whatever information east german insider might willing share deepening crisis vogel told east german government planning buy time easing travel restrictions citizens announcement expected days bindenagel rushed back embassy share hot piece news 730 evening vogels revelation already overtaken events minutes earlier gunter schabowski east german government spokesman stunned world announcing countrymen free travel west schabowski160 asked changes would go effect german adlibbed immediately said small crowd east germans gathered checkpoint charlie blocked police insisted exit visas still required way home evening bindenagel noticed larger crowd beginning build bornholmerstrasse checkpoint near home pankow district particular crossing consisted bridge straddled sbahn tracks classic cold war scene illuminated lights television crew west berlin side crowd goodnatured east german border guards shoottokill orders im thinking isnt good whatever going television said bindenagel rushed last blocks home turned television unbeknown americans shoottokill orders suspended weeks earlier new instructions rapidly collapsing east german government befuddled border guards decided let people wall breached scenes jubilation flashed around world among happy mob bornholmerstasse crossing earnest young university physicist named angela merkel way home evening friends somewhat uncharacteristically got caught euphoria moment went across border merkel course would later become germanys first female chancellor first former east germany hold job interview journalists last week merkel described dramatic demise cold wars potent symbol stroke good fortune also noted shattering experience one generation east germans endured worst communist system old reap benefits reunited germany days berlin look hard find traces wall near former bornholmerstrasse checkpoint significant stretches still standing covered graffiti none political nearby barracks housed east german border guards razed area parking lot memorial plaque bridge says wall first breached plaque covered graffiti postwar apartment blocks pankow still retain whiff former east german shoddiness longer find trabants parked streets monday germany rest western alliance celebrate 20th anniversary fall wall daniel barenboim bon jovi perform brandenburg gate merkel us secretary state hillary clinton british prime minister gordon brown french president nicolas sarkozy among others speak row eightfoot high dominoes set along path vanished wall toppled appropriate moment much written significance symbolism fall berlin wall cold war brought nonnuclear conclusion germany whole peaceful rocky start eastern half germany made significant strides toward catching western half perhaps significant events nov 9 1989 europes fiercely guarded border collapsed national borders europe also became obsolete two days wall fell bindenagel family joined swelling ranks delighted berliners went back forth two halves city crossing west bindenagel said return east felt like entering twilight zone without berlin wall government east germany longer purpose quickly faded oblivion expected within next two decades borders germany poland germany france also faded astonishing accomplishment given brutal history 20th century todays european union drive lisbon lublin without anyone asking see passport europe still walls east german government erected berlin wall keep citizens getting eu erected discreet extremely effective wall along eastern frontier keep noncitizens getting new wall doesnt watchtowers electrified fences guards shoottokill orders smart wall electronic sensors hightech gadgetry designed catch trespassers may lack inyourface symbolic punch berlin wall far walls go job 160
| 638 |
<p>APRIL 26, 2015</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>This Sunday, a devastating earthquake in Nepal leaves at least 2,000 dead. We'll have the latest. Also, the drone war.</p>
<p>BARACK OBAMA:</p>
<p>We all bleed when we lose an American life.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD (V/O):</p>
<p>An American accidentally killed. Is a drone war immoral? Or the only effective way to take out terrorists that are endangering American lives? Plus, same-sex marriage reaches the Supreme Court again, and perhaps for the final time. I'll be joined by former Bush v. Gore foes who joined forces to fight for marriage equality. And Hillary Clinton's cash controversy. How damaging will these new money stories be to her candidacy? Finally, Washington's obsession with itself.</p>
<p>CECILY STRONG:</p>
<p>Feels right to have a woman follow President Obama, doesn't it?</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD (V/O):</p>
<p>My interview with the Correspondents' Dinner headline act, SNL's Cecily Strong. I'm Chuck Todd and joining me to provide insight and analysis this Sunday morning are the Republican governor of Arkansas, Asa Hutchinson. Pulitzer-prize winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. Helene Cooper of The New York Times, who now has her own Pulitzer, Matt Bai of Yahoo News. Welcome to Sunday. It's Meet the Press.</p>
<p>ANNOUNCER:</p>
<p>From NBC News in Washington, this is Meet the Press with Chuck Todd.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Good morning. Before we get to all the week's politics and a discussion of America's drone war, one story is dominating headlines across the globe this Sunday. Desperate rescue efforts are underway after the worst earthquake to hit Nepal in more than 80 years. It struck near the capital, Katmandu. The death toll is now over 2,000. It includes 17 climbers who were killed by avalanches on Mount Everest.</p>
<p>In fact, one Nepali journalist said this: "The sadness is sinking in. We have lost our temples, our history, the places we grew up." For the latest, let's go to our chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel, who was in Kathmandu this morning. Richard?</p>
<p>RICHARD ENGEL:</p>
<p>Chuck, Kathmandu is now a city where people aren't living inside their homes. Every green space has been taken over. People are afraid to go into their homes, to sleep inside their homes. Behind me is one of the biggest parks in the city, but it is not just this park, people are sleeping and cooking with their families on the sidewalks, in the middle of the street.</p>
<p>They're afraid that there could be another major earthquake or just more of these aftershocks. We felt today one of the aftershocks when we arrived. It happened just as we had landed at the airport. We were going through immigration, and suddenly the building started shaking, the immigration officers ran away, ran outside for cover.</p>
<p>Then they came back. And I think people have been amazingly calm in the several hours we've been here. We've seen people quite resilient, taking it with a "take it as a comes" attitude. There are still foreigners in this city. And their situation isn't much better than the people who are living in the parks behind me. The hotels are operating in a status of kind of semi-evacuation. The hotels aren't kicking out their guests, they have nowhere to go, and there aren't many flights out of here.</p>
<p>So the guests are stuck there. But they don't want the guests to go up to the rooms, especially the upper floors. So the guests are sleeping in the lobby, they're sleeping in some of the lower hallways. And mostly, they're just sleeping in the gardens and in the parking lot in front of the hotel. We don't know how long this is going to last like this.</p>
<p>People I've been speaking to in the parks think they might be here for several more days, maybe a week. But it is not just here. There is the even more mysterious situation on Mount Everest. Some climbers have been evacuated from Mount Everest. Several, at least 17, including two Americans, have been killed. But I think we're going to be learning more about what exactly happened on Mount Everest as those survivors come off the mountain. They can be debriefed and teams can go in to see what happened. Chuck?</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Richard, thank you very much. Now to the other big news of the week. One of the most striking changes in American foreign policy under President Obama has been a major escalation of drone strikes on Al Qaeda targets in Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia. And controversy about Americans who have joined Al Qaeda have been targeted and killed.</p>
<p>In fact, we learned of the latest instant this week when the White House revealed that two American Al Qaeda leaders and two hostages, one Italian and one American, have been killed in drone strikes in January. Yet, no one in government used the word "drone strike," and politicians from both parties have been strangely reluctant to even talk about the issue.</p>
<p>PRESIDENT OBAMA:</p>
<p>We all bleed when we lose an American life. We all grieve when any innocent life is taken.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>The who, what, when, where, why, and how are all still lurking. On January 14th, American aid worker, Warren Weinstein, kidnapped in 2011, and Italian, Giovanni Lo Porto, held since 2012, were killed when an Al Qaeda compound in Pakistan's remote Shawal Valley was hit by a C.I.A. drone strike. Another American, Ahmad Farouq, a deputy Al Qaeda commander, was also killed. On January 19th, a second strike killed American Adam Gadahn, Al Qaeda's top spokesman, with a million-dollar bounty on his head.</p>
<p>JOSH EARNEST:</p>
<p>Mr. Gadahn was not specifically targeted.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>The problem for the U.S. in these and other instances is that the C.I.A. often does not know who it is killing, targeting only high-level Al Qaeda leadership. Two years ago, President Obama pledged to scale back the drone campaign.</p>
<p>PRESIDENT OBAMA:</p>
<p>And before any strike is taken, there must be near certainty that no civilians will be killed or injured.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>But so-called signature strikes have continued. That's when the C.I.A. files a missile based on a pattern of behavior of people on the ground, even if it does not know who it's killing. By independent estimates of the more than 3,800 people killed by drones since 9/11, as many as 12% have been civilians. C.I.A. director John Brennan said this month that the deaths have been overstated.</p>
<p>JOHN BRENNAN:</p>
<p>A lot of these stories that you hear about in terms of, "Oh my goodness, there are hundreds of civilians that are killed," whatever. A lot of that is propaganda that is put out by those elements that are very much opposed to the U.S. coming in and helping.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>But few dispute the drone wars hurting U.S. prestige abroad. Just 14% of Pakistanis view the U.S. favorably. Meanwhile in Washington this week and on the campaign trail, a deafening silence. Rand Paul staged a 13-hour filibuster two years ago to protest U.S. drone policy. This time, his campaign issued just a sentence: "It is a tragedy that these hostages lost their lives. My prayers and thoughts are with their families." A reminder of the collective reluctance of Washington to question President Obama's covert war.</p>
<p>I'm joined now by Tom Donilon. He's the former national security advisor to President Obama. He was in the room when the president made key decisions about the drone program in the early part of his presidency. Mr. Donilon, welcome back to Meet the Press.</p>
<p>TOM DONILON:</p>
<p>Good morning, Chuck. Thank you.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>These two strikes killed two hostages that the C.I.A. was unaware of and two Americans turned Al Qaeda operatives that the C.I.A. was unaware of. How does that happen?</p>
<p>TOM DONILON:</p>
<p>Yeah, well, with respect to these operations that the president declassified on Thursday, which are the two operations that you talked about. In the first case, there was a determination made that these are military facilities against actions should be taken. And that was the result of hundreds of hours of surveillance, all kinds of analysis, and red teaming.</p>
<p>And that assessment was true. These were enemy facilities, these were Al Qaeda compounds, as the president disclosed on Thursday. They were frequented by Al Qaeda leadership. And therefore, a legitimate military target. So that assessment was correct. Now the president also has publicly stated the framework under which we make determinations about collateral damage or the killing of innocents. And in this case, that turned out to be wrong. The standard there the president put in place is very high. Near certainty that there won't be deaths by this, or injury to a civilian.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>So this didn't meet those standards?</p>
<p>TOM DONILON:</p>
<p>Well, all the procedures and protocol, as I understand it that the president said on Thursday were followed. The standard with respect as to whether or not this was a military facility where Al Qaeda operated out of and it was a threat to our forces was accurate. But it was a tragic, unintended consequence here, because the hostages were held at one of the facilities, against which we took an action.</p>
<p>Now, near certainty is a standard. If you are looking for absolute certainty in a war zone, Chuck, you are not going to find it. And what the president has said here is, "We should take another look at this because it was a tragic accident," obviously, with respect to Dr. Weinstein.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>But you say that they're bringing protocols. And he announced all of these in May of 2013. So almost two years. But it doesn't seem like many of the new protocols have been implemented. You know, he wanted to refine and repeal the war resolution itself to have to deal with this, a new protocol for the drone program, reduction, reduced drone strikes by the end of 2014.</p>
<p>This was done in 2015, and obviously, I think the goal was when the Afghanistan war was done and the withdrawal was complete, the drone program would maybe completely end or nearly end and move from the C.I.A. to the Pentagon. Well, obviously we didn't withdraw from Afghanistan. But why haven't we moved the program to the Pentagon, where you'd have real, congressional oversight?</p>
<p>TOM DONILON:</p>
<p>Well, you have real congressional oversight over these operations.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Is that right?</p>
<p>TOM DONILON:</p>
<p>Yes, that is.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>And there's a lot of people who don't believe that.</p>
<p>TOM DONILON:</p>
<p>Well, that is correct. There is oversight over these programs, number one. Number two, the framework is in place. And indeed, the standard by which the government makes a judgment as to whether or not to take a strike, right, is near certainty. Near certainty as to whether or not there'll be injury to a civilian.</p>
<p>And in this case, that protocol was followed, and it turned out to be inaccurate. And the president's asked for a review in this circumstance of why that turned out to be inaccurate. But, there's no doubt, Chuck, about the effectiveness of these programs or the necessity of these operations.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You don't think that these drones, of killing terrorists with drones, unmanned, isn't making more terrorists?</p>
<p>TOM DONILON:</p>
<p>Well.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>That has been a concern for some time.</p>
<p>TOM DONILON:</p>
<p>Yes.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You don't believe that that's happen?</p>
<p>TOM DONILON:</p>
<p>No, I don't think that's the case. This is what I think is the case, that a comprehensive effort by the United States against Al Qaeda and its leadership has resulted in a safer America. That in fact, we've been able to decimate Al Qaeda's leadership, we've been able to reduce the threat to our forces and Afghanistan and our interest around the world and the United States.</p>
<p>My own judgment is that absent these operations like the president described on Thursday, absent these kinds of operations, a comprehensive effort against Al Qaeda, there would have been further action against U.S. interests and perhaps at the homeland and in the homeland. I don't have any doubt about that.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Let’s talk about the constitutional rights of the two Americans turned Al Qaeda operatives, you know, the legal issue here is a bit murky. And according to the president, they didn't know they were targeting, that these two individuals would be there. Had they known that these two Americans turned Al Qaeda operatives were there, would this drone strike have happened?</p>
<p>TOM DONILON:</p>
<p>Well, let's go through the analysis, right? These two Al Qaeda senior operatives were not targeted, number one in this. What was targeted--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>But had they known to be there, would this drone strike have happened?</p>
<p>TOM DONILON:</p>
<p>Well, let me go through it, right? They were not targeted. What was targeted was an enemy facility in the Afghanistan war theater. That's the first point. They were not targeted. Secondly, an American citizen who goes abroad and joins the enemy and wages war on the United States, as the president said in his May 2013 speech, does not get a shield against action by the United States.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>No due process?</p>
<p>TOM DONILON:</p>
<p>Well, we don't know it's an American, right?</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>TOM DONILON:</p>
<p>It's an action against an enemy facility. No more, for example, in this example the president gave, no more than someone who's a sniper and firing on a crowd does not get immunity or a shield against being taken out by a SWAT team in the United States. So the bottom line is that they were not targeted, this was an action against a military facility.</p>
<p>If in fact the United States decides to engage in an action against an American, and know they’re American, there are additional protections that the president laid out, including a review by the Justice Department and the attorney general. But that's not the case here.</p>
<p>(OVERTALK)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>So had we known there were Americans there, that drone strike would've at least been delayed until they got the proper legal protocol?</p>
<p>TOM DONILON:</p>
<p>There would've been a review in my judge, there should've been a review, right, with respect to an independent reviewer, reviewed by additional review by the attorney general and the Justice Department, with respect to ensuring that the constitutional, statutory rights of individuals who are protected.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Tom, final question. Do you believe this was an intelligence failure?</p>
<p>TOM DONILON:</p>
<p>My view is this, is that this was an operation against a military facility, it was based on hundreds of hours of surveillance and intelligence, and the assessment that it was an Al Qaeda compound and a military facility in a war zone was correct. Secondly, with respect to the near certainty standard, with respect to not having civilian casualties, in that case here, it turned out not to be correct. And that's why the president asked for a review. So--</p>
<p>(OVERTALK)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>--a failure? An intelligence failure?</p>
<p>TOM DONILON:</p>
<p>Well, I didn't say an intelligence failure, Chuck. I said that the protocols were followed, right, and it was accurate with respect to whether or not this was the Al Qaeda facility. But in fact, there were hostages being held here. Now, it is difficult to know that, obviously.</p>
<p>You know, I spent a lot of time, for example, working on the hunt for Osama bin Laden. It took us years over the course of several, of two administrations, to find him. This is a very tough business. And if you're looking for, again, as tragic as this was, two things. It's very important to protect the United States and secondly, if you look for absolute certainty, you're not going to find it in a war setting.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Tom Donilon, home National Security Advisor, thanks for coming on Meet the Press. I appreciate your views. I'm now joined by Micah Zenko. He's a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and an expert on drone warfare. Mr. Zenko, welcome to Meet the Press. Let me ask you this, the drone program as it stands now, is it as necessary and successful as you heard it outlined by Mr. Donilon just now?</p>
<p>MICAH ZENKO:</p>
<p>Well, that outline presumes the assumption that the United States must be continuously using military force against a wide array of militant and terrorist organizations. So once you start with that assumption, I would say the binary policy choices the White House presents is you can either have a massive military occupation like Iraq, or you can conduct drone strikes, in which case they become particularly wise and ethical.</p>
<p>But I would say that the real question is why is it you think that the United States has been conducting these strikes since November 3rd, 2002, 50 under President Bush, 475 under President Obama, and the groups that the United States has been trying to defeat and eliminate either stay the same size, grow, or they move to other countries. So the real question is, how effective has this been as part of the comprehensive strategy that Mr. Donilon claims the United States has employed.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>What is the unintended consequence, do you believe, of being able to engage militarily basically with a robot, with a drone, without any potentially risking blood and treasure when it comes to a military hit?</p>
<p>MICAH ZENKO:</p>
<p>Well, compared to all of the weapons platforms, drones have these inherent advantages to them, which is they can persist over targets for extensively long times, they're very responsive in terms of putting ammunition on top of a facility or a car or individual. And obviously, they don't place U.S. service members at any degree of risk.</p>
<p>And subsequently, since the U.S. first had this capability, it significantly lowers the threshold for when civilian policy makers will authorize the use of force. There have been something 425 drone strikes in Pakistan. No president would've ever authorized 425 manned aircraft raids into Pakistan or special operators raids. So it's the capability itself that changes the calculus for when president, C.I.A. directors, Pentagon officials will authorize the use of force.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Is there an alternative to drones that would be easier to sell to policy makers perhaps that are skeptical of what we're doing and frankly somewhat, I don't know if you call Pakistan as a full-fledged ally, but to keep an ally like Pakistan from being too upset about it?</p>
<p>MICAH ZENKO:</p>
<p>Again, you're assuming that the United States must be using military force. And so once you've made that assumption, drones become again, wise and ethical. They're the preferred method to use military force. The bigger question is, how are these actually being used and coordinated with the other sort of elements of national power?</p>
<p>President Obama had a fascinating observation the other day when he said, "We need to stop thinking about counterterrorism in isolation and think about development diplomacy and education opportunities." That's a great recognition six years into his administration to realize, but we seem to fall back on this default tactic as the method as the primary method to which we use these strikes. And fortunately, drones have become the face of U.S. foreign policy, not just from the countries where the strikes occur, but around the world.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Right now, the U.S. is basically the lone country using drones as much as it is. What happens when other countries start using drones for their own military use?</p>
<p>MICAH ZENKO:</p>
<p>Well, these are proliferating slowly, but other countries have developed them and employed them in some instances. The British using U.S.-leased drones, the Israelis use them as well. But President Obama, I think correctly, has stated that the United States is setting precedents and principles that they hope other countries will adhere to.</p>
<p>The problem is that the absence of clarity or transparency in these precedents or principles, and the clear fact that the outlying guidance that President Obama put forth in May 2013 is not directly guiding U.S. policy. There's a gap between how the U.S. justifies the use of drones and how they actually employ them. If every state followed that sort of perceived hypocrisy gap, I think that would be devastating for a lot of U.S. foreign policy interest and global security more generally.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>All right, Micah Zenko from the Council on Foreign Relations. Micah, I appreciate you coming on Meet the Press and for sharing your views.</p>
<p>MICAH ZENKO:</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>When we come back, the legal odd couple, Ted Olson and David Boies. They're fighting for same-sex marriage. The case hits the Supreme Court on Tuesday.</p>
<p>***Commercial Break***</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>And if you want more on the 2016 presidential race, and let's face it, you're watching Meet the Press so you must, right? Well, now you can have your daily dose of 2016 delivered right to your inbox with our newest offering, The Lid. Get all the analysis and insight from the NBC News political unit, and it's even kind of funny. So sign up, head over to our website, I promise you won't be disappointed. Later in the broadcast, Washington's big self-centered night. I got to catch up with SNL's Cecily Strong just moments after her performance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.</p>
<p>CECILY STRONG (ON TAPE):</p>
<p>I feel like I can hardly remember what happened when I was up there. So I don't even know. I'll probably watch back and be like, "Oh-I thought that did really well."</p>
<p>***Commercial Break***</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Welcome back. On Tuesday, the debate over gay marriage heads to the Supreme Court again, where the justices will hear arguments on whether individual states can constitutionally ban same-sex marriage. Eleven states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation to make same-sex marriage legal. And another 25 have been forced to legalize it by court decisions.</p>
<p>At the same time, there's been a dramatic change on public opinion on the issue. In our latest, NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, 59% are in favor of same-sex marriage. That's up from 41% just five years ago. My next two guests, David Boies and Ted Olson, played a crucial role in the fight for marriage equality, acting as co-lead counsel in a landmark case in 2008 that overturned California's same-sex ban, Proposition Eight.</p>
<p>What was surprising at the time was that Olson's a conservative and Boies a liberal, were all old foes, having faced off in Bush versus Gore back in the famous Supreme Court case, of course, the 2000 elections. They're the authors of a book on the Proposition Eight case, Redeeming the Dream: The Case for Marriage Equality. Mr. Boies, Mr. Olson, welcome back to Meet the Press.</p>
<p>TED OLSON:</p>
<p>Good to be here.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>David, let me start with the Prop Eight case.</p>
<p>DAVID BOIES:</p>
<p>Right.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Why do you believe the Supreme Court stopped short of basically making it law of the land and only targeted California?</p>
<p>DAVID BOIES:</p>
<p>I think there's a legal reason and part's a policy reason. The legal reason was because under Supreme Court precedent, the people who were appealing that decision really didn't have standing. They weren't injured, they weren't adversely affected by it. They simply had a political point of view that they thought these marriages ought to be banned.</p>
<p>And so from a legal standing, constitutional standing, under the Supreme Court precedent, they really shouldn't have been there. Now there may have been a policy reason that we enforce that, which was to let the Congress develop a little bit further. At that point, we still had less than half the country on marriage equality. Now overwhelmingly it's taken over the country. And so just in the last couple of years, we've seen a tremendous movement that I think makes it easier now for the Supreme Court to make that total decision.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Mr. Olson, is it possible that the Supreme Court could basically, and I hate to use this phrase, but split the baby and say that states have to recognize, all 50 states have to recognize same-sex marriages, but individual states cannot issue licenses?</p>
<p>TED OLSON:</p>
<p>I don't believe that's going to happen. As David pointed out, when our case, the Proposition Eight case came to the Supreme Court, the next day, the court heard the federal Defense of Marriage case. They were both decided the same day. What the Supreme Court said in the Defense of Marriage case, which was called the Windsor Case, was that the law is like the federal statute that restricted rights of individuals who wished to get married to the same person.</p>
<p>It was demeaning, it disrespected their relationship, it took a little bit of constitutional rights. If you read what the Supreme Court said in that case, there's really no other way for the Supreme Court to come out in the case that's up for argument on Tuesday. The first part of that case is whether states have to recognize the rights of individuals who wish to get married in that state. I think that will end the debate right there.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Well, it does seem, obviously it's going to the state's rights argument, that you can see the federal government saying, "No, no, no, no, you've got to recognize this is the way it works." But you don't think they'll draw a states'-rights line here?</p>
<p>TED OLSON:</p>
<p>No, I don't. And because of what the Supreme Court said in the federal case, that we're talking not so much, they mentioned states' rights, but they were talking about the impact on the individuals in a relationship and the children of those relationship, how it took away their rights. It made their relationships less equal, second-class. And those sorts of things that we don't do this in this country. We don't take away the rights of individuals and put them in a box and say that they are less equal than other people.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Mr. Boies, what about the, and you hear this argument from the right that says, "Okay, same-sex marriage, it's going to become constitutionally legal once the Supreme Court does this. Then can you constitutionally ban polygamy?"</p>
<p>DAVID BOIES:</p>
<p>No.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>I mean, you know this is where this is going to go.</p>
<p>DAVID BOIES:</p>
<p>Well.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>How do you constitutionally ban polygamy?</p>
<p>DAVID BOIES:</p>
<p>Well, first of all, that's a silly argument. It really is. This has to do with equal rights. What we're saying is that you can't deprive a loving couple of marriage simply based on their sexual orientation. Just like you can't deprive a loving biracial couple of the right to get married. The Supreme Court held that many, many years ago.</p>
<p>What you have in the polygamy case is a situation where you're going to have multiple partners. And there's all sorts of evidence that that has harmful effects on some of the people participating and on the children. So there's a policy reason. But more importantly, there's a legal reason. And that is, you're not discriminating against anybody.</p>
<p>Everybody gets to have one spouse. As long as you don't restrict it based on race, gender, sexual orientation, everybody's treated equal under the constitution. What you can't do is you can't say, "Some people are second-class." And so some people can marry the person they love, one man, one woman. But two men and two women, they can't get married simply because of their sexual orientation or their gender, that's what's unconstitutional about it. The polygamy thing has nothing to do with it.</p>
<p>TED OLSON:</p>
<p>The overwhelming evidence in the case that we tried is that sexual orientation is something that's an immutable characteristic of an individual. Choosing to have multiple spouses is a choice. It's not a part of an innate characteristic. So we're discriminating against people because of their sexual orientation. Polygamy has nothing to do with it.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Alright, I’m going to make you guys play Supreme Court pundits here. Swing vote, swing vote or votes on this issue.</p>
<p>TED OLSON:</p>
<p>If you look at the decisions that the Supreme Court made in the Defense of Marriage case and the earlier cases that we cited in our briefs, there's five votes, including Justice Kennedy, Justice Ginsburg, Justice Breyer, Justice Sotomayor, Justice Kagan.</p>
<p>We think that, as David and I talked about this case, we were hoping that all nine justices would fall in line once the case finally was decided because of the inherent rights of individuals. So I'm still optimistic it'll be more than five votes. But we can count the justices that already decided the Defense of Marriage case and their explanation for why they decided that.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>David, does it matter if it's 5-4 or 6-3? You know what I mean? Does that have a better, does it have a different impact?</p>
<p>DAVID BOIES:</p>
<p>I think civil rights cases ought to be decided 9-0, 8-1, the way the racial and civil rights decisions were largely made. I think it--</p>
<p>(OVERTALK)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>The public thinks that?</p>
<p>DAVID BOIES:</p>
<p>Exactly. And it sends a message that this country doesn't tolerate discrimination. So I think the more justices that sign on, the better. But I think if you just look at, if you're reading tea leaves here, you've got to look at Windsor.</p>
<p>(OVERTALK)</p>
<p>DAVID BOIES:</p>
<p>And I think it's very hard to see how any one of the five majority justices in Windsor would decide this case differently. But on the other hand, I think it's a little hard to figure out for sure that you can get any one of the four that dissented in Windsor.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>All right, David Boies, Ted Olson, it's always a pleasure.</p>
<p>TED OLSON:</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Thank you for coming on. Let me bring in the panel now. Of course, we've got the Republican governor of Arkansas, Asa Hutchinson, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Helene Cooper, and Mr. Matt Bai. Governor Hutchinson, let me start with you. I went through the states' rights argument on this front. Do you believe, you're also an attorney, I believe, do you believe there is a line you can draw between saying, the federal question is states have to recognize, versus the question of whether states have to authorize?</p>
<p>GOV. ASA HUTCHINSON:</p>
<p>Todd , I thought your arguments were very persuasive in the previous discussion. I think there is a way the court can do that. If you look at the Windsor case that was spoken of, it was not just how gays were treated that was part of the decision.</p>
<p>There was also a deference to states' definition of marriage. And that's been historically a recognition by the Supreme Court. What has changed? The constitution hasn't changed. But a lot of things have happened in the state courts. A majority of the states that have moved toward recognizing gay marriage has done it through judicial fiat, versus the legislative process.</p>
<p>And so the courts really are forcing this issue as to what the Supreme Court will do. I think it's a little bit unpredictable. I think they could continue to give some deference to the states. But I do think that we'll probably have to clearly recognize what happens in another state. And so we'll wait and see. But as governor--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>This became interesting for you, though. You put it on personal terms. Your son, this is when the Religious Freedom bill that you we're going to sign, your son petitioned you to veto the bill. And you yourself said, "You know what, on same-sex marriage, this is a generational divide."</p>
<p>GOV. ASA HUTCHINSON:</p>
<p>Well, it is. It's a divide politically, it's a divide geographically. I'm from Arkansas. Arkansas has a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between one man and one woman. That's my conviction, that's my belief. But I also recognize if we talk about this issue, we need to talk about it in terms of tolerance. We need to talk about it in terms of non-discriminatory policy, the diversity of the workplace. That's the point I was making with my son that it is a generational divide.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Doris, you're of course an historian</p>
<p>DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN</p>
<p>Of course.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Of course, of course, of course. Any movement in history moved so fast as the acceptance of same-sex marriage?</p>
<p>DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN:</p>
<p>It is astonishing. When you think about only a decade ago, President Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act. And then you get civil unions in Vermont, and then you get Massachusetts saying, "Same sex." Then you get these other states following one after another. I think what it suggests is something really important about our civic life.</p>
<p>Where does prejudice and discrimination come from, when one group, one class, one race, one people with sexual orientation, has little to do with the others. And they-- they characterize them and they prejudice them and they stereotype them.</p>
<p>Gay people are now working with all sorts of people, their children are going to school with the children of straight people. They're part of their neighborhood. It's harder then to say they're "other." And you begin to feel a sense of their desires, their passions. That's what makes a healthy civic life. I think it's a wonderful remarkable not just about gay marriage and gay rights, but about what can happen in a society when we stop being behind tribal barriers it's a good thing.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You know, Helene, as tribal as we have been lately in our politics, on this issue, it really has been, you could argue, been driven by young folks.</p>
<p>HELENE COOPER:</p>
<p>Very much so. But what's also really interesting is that I think so many more so much of this is experiential, particularly when you look at politicians, you see people coming out and say, "Well, actually, I was opposed to this until my son told me he was gay."</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Rob Portman story</p>
<p>HELENE COOPER:</p>
<p>And I think that has been one of the driving forces. As soon as you can put a face on an issue that before had been so so esoteric to a lot of people, I think this movement, I mean, I think we're there.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>All right, Matt, our quick presidential politics question on this. So we're going to get this decision in June. I think the assumption is that it's likely going to end up legalizing same-sex marriage in all 50 states.</p>
<p>MATT BAI:</p>
<p>Right.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>A year from then, the Republican party is going to meet and have its decision, are they going to have a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in their platform or not? What do you think is going to happen over that one-year period? Do you think it'll end up that the nominee says, "You know what, just take it out"?</p>
<p>MATT BAI:</p>
<p>Yeah, I think not. I mean, obviously it depends on who your nominee is to some extent. But like, as I've said before, here and elsewhere Republicans are on the wrong side of this, obviously, and it has moved much too quickly for them. Really, they've put themselves in a very bad position. Because honestly, if we're honest about this, no one in the political establishment should be patting themselves on the back in either party on this issue. One of the reasons it moved so quickly Doris, is because the public was really--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>The public dragged them</p>
<p>MATT BAI:</p>
<p>Absolutely. You know, and there was no, Hubert Humphrey walked out of the 1948 Democratic Convention over civil rights. There's no Hubert Humphrey in the political system on this issue. And so you know, Republicans were not necessarily so far behind where Democrats were, but they are making this an issue that's going to set them back for years to come, I think.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>All right. I'm going to put a pause button on here, speaking of a little politics, we're going to get into it in the next segment. Coming up, the Clinton Foundation money. Is this latest story a major problem for Hillary's campaign? Or is it much ado about very little?</p>
<p>***Commercial Break***</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Welcome back. We're two weeks into the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. And Republicans and some journalists have been working themselves into a frenzy over a new book on the Clintons that's about to be released. It's called Clinton Cash. It's by Peter Schweizer. Alleges a too-cozy relationship between donations to the Clinton Foundation, and Clinton family speaking fees, and decisions that were made by Hillary Clinton's State Department.</p>
<p>Let me bring in the panel here to discuss hospital damaging they all think this is. Helene, let me start with you, because the allegations, there's definitely A and there's C, right, and then there's been an argument, okay, the trouble is, how do you prove the connection, New York Times, your paper, did a big story on this Russian issue having to do with uranium purchase. There's not a connection, but there is the appearance of impropriety.</p>
<p>HELENE COOPER:</p>
<p>That's the biggest problem. And it all takes us back to the '90s. It feeds this aura that a lot of people have about the Clintons. I mean, remember, we've gone through, what, six years with Barack Obama. And you haven't had that atmosphere, you know, that aura of there's something going on. People are now talking about the Lincoln bedroom again.</p>
<p>People are talking about, it just brings, I think, this is not, I don't think that this is necessarily that huge a deal. But I think that this feeds a problem that she's going to continue to have. And it brings up again the sort of the why didn't they see this earlier, why didn't they take steps to disassociate themselves?</p>
<p>But as soon as she left the State Department she went back to, you know, accepting the Clinton Foundation that had sort of distanced itself a little bit from this, and went back to taking some of these donations. And why didn't they foresee this? I mean, everybody knew that Hillary Clinton was going to run, I mean, so.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>That's mindboggling. But, you know, Matt Bai, Jonathan Chait, who's no conservative pundit, he's, well, I think pretty left of center--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>--in New York Magazine, this is what he wrote: "All sorts of unproven worst-case-scenario questions float around discussing this book. But the best-case scenario," he writes, "is bad enough: The Clintons have been disorganized and greedy." He called the news this week, today, at the time, "about the Clintons all fleshes out, in one way or another, their lack of interest in policing serious conflict-of-interest problems that arise in their overlapping roles."</p>
<p>MATT BAI:</p>
<p>Right. I mean, what a happy coincidence of publishing schedule and news cycle, huh? That worked out. Lookw, let's be clear. I don't think anyone was voting for Hillary Clinton, or who's going to, because of the threat she poses to the governing status quo and the political establishment. Right?</p>
<p>I mean, it doesn't hurt her with her voters, that perception, you know, she's not the reformist presence that Barack Obama was and is. I do think, as Helene says, it's the arrogance of it. And I think it's something, you know, it's this issue, it's the emails, it's the idea that, you know, you'd never admit guilty, never say you're sorry, you kill the messenger, you tear everything down</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>they have this whole thing to say, "It's a hatchet job, masquerading as a book." They sort of, like, and as Ron Fournier points out, it's sort of like a standard playbook.</p>
<p>MATT BAI:</p>
<p>Yeah--</p>
<p>MATT BAI:</p>
<p>It is a standard playbook. It's the idea that, you know, you have to fight ten times harder, you know, the whole line about them bringing a knife to a gun fight, right? And I think that doesn't wear well in presidential politics. And it particularly doesn't wear well when it's something people are already concerned about, where your candidacy is concerned.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You know, Doris, eight years ago, Democrats were hand wringing publicly about this. This time, they're doing it privately. I heard an earful last night from various Democrats, some of whom who worked in the Clinton campaign, who said, "Why is she still taking foreign donations?" Why is the foundation, you know, they narrowed it down, okay, now they're only going to take it from some European countries and Canada. They've gotten rid of some of the despot states that they were, that's the stuff that boggles the mind. But they're afraid of speaking out.</p>
<p>DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN:</p>
<p>I think what still boggles the mind is why doesn't Hillary deal with this herself right now? You know, to a certain extent, when you have Mitt Romney saying, "This is bribery." Bribery means theft, robbery, it means taking favors to do something corrupt. You can't let that charge stand and simply say, "It's the wrong people telling it."</p>
<p>When Teddy Roosevelt was accused similarly in 1904 of giving favors to big corporations and promising that he wouldn't do anti-trust against them, he gave up. Everybody said, "Don't say anything. Don't make it legitimate." He gets up and stands up, he said, "If this charge were true, I'd be infamous. This would be a terrible thing. But it's false. It's wickedly false. It's atrociously false." That ended and he said, "You give me evidence." No evidence, he comes off it flying colors. I think she has to answer this herself.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Well, Governor Hutchinson, you're from the Clintons' home state. They have had accusations thrown at them time and again and they politically always survive. Do you think this time it's different?</p>
<p>GOV. ASA HUTCHINSON:</p>
<p>Does it impact her base, Republican base? It impacts the middle. What this does, it reminds everyone that everything about the Clintons is complicated. And this story has three ramifications that bear looking at. An awful, ungodly amount of money involved in these transactions. It involves a foreign source.</p>
<p>And then it involves high positions in government, important decisions. No evidence of a quid pro quo. Republicans need to be careful not to overstate the case. But it reminds us that Clintons are complicated and they tend to make mistakes.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Well, it'll be interesting to see how much more of this happens before Democrats start going as public as they did when I was talking to a bunch of them last night. All right, when we come back, on this weekend of political satire, one of the greatest political satirists of all time, Doonesbury's Garry Trudeau. That's coming up.</p>
<p>***Commercial Break***</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Welcome back. If you don't know Garry Trudeau, you definitely know his work. He's the Pulitzer-Prize-winning cartoonist, and the creator of the politically famous comic strip, Doonesbury. He's also executive producer of the Amazon show Alpha House. But earlier this month, you may have heard about him for a different reason.</p>
<p>While accepting the George Polk Award, he criticized some of the work that appeared in the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo. They were, of course, the victims of a terror attack in January of this year. Trudeau said the magazine's cartoons satirizing Muhammad, quote, "wandered into the realm of hate speech." So I started in my sit-down with him by asking him about those comments, and whether, as some critics have alleged about him, that he felt the victims were to blame for the tragedy.</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>GARRY TRUDEAU:</p>
<p>Oh, not at all. And, you know, I think perhaps I should've made it a little clear that I was as outraged as the rest of the world at the time. I mourn them deeply, we're a very small fraternity of political cartoonists around the globe. I created a tribute page to them on a Sunday section in which I included the work of all five cartoonists, including their signatures and their main characters. What I didn't do is necessarily agree with the decisions that he made that brought really a world of pain to France.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Is religion the red line for you? Is that the issue?</p>
<p>GARRY TRUDEAU:</p>
<p>Not entirely. I certainly wouldn't draw pictures of the prophet. However, I have done many cartoons satirizing in the specific terrorists, the Taliban, Al Qaeda, the PLO, through the years. And have never received any blowback from the Muslim community. They understand that I'm separating out the two.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Let's talk about Doonesbury.</p>
<p>GARRY TRUDEAU:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>What was the impetus? Was it Watergate? Was it Vietnam? Was it just that era? What was the impetus?</p>
<p>GARRY TRUDEAU:</p>
<p>I don't know what it was. You know, my career was not my idea. It was the idea of an editor who picked me out of my student newspaper my junior year and gave me the job I still hold. I don't know what he was thinking. I didn't have, you know, the skill set that most people would associate with creating a comic strip.</p>
<p>I think he just liked my perspective. And thereafter, because I'd been doing it in college, I had no editor, I had no clear sense of what I could do on the comics page and what I couldn't. And so I was, you know, constantly being kicked out of newspapers.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Yeah, where does it belong? I mean, look, I remember growing up and there would be some newspapers, it was in the--</p>
<p>(OVERTALK)</p>
<p>GARRY TRUDEAU:</p>
<p>Yeah, selfishly I--</p>
<p>(OVERTALK)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>And in some places, like, you know, The Washington Post famously put it in the style section.</p>
<p>GARRY TRUDEAU:</p>
<p>Or in the editorial page.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>And some put it in--where does it belong?</p>
<p>GARRY TRUDEAU:</p>
<p>You know, I feel it belongs on the comics page. And for a very selfish reason, which is that's where the readers are. Jack Anderson, a legendary columnist, he's to insist that his column appear on the comics page of The Washington Post because that's where the readers were.</p>
<p>But in the early days, the red lines were a little less clear to me. And I did something incredibly inane. I put together this questionnaire with a check list, and I sent it out to a dozen high-level editors around the country, and I said, "Which of these subjects do you think are appropriate for the comics page?" You know, abortion, marijuana, politics, rock-n-roll, sex.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>I'm curious, what year did you do this? Do you remember?</p>
<p>GARRY TRUDEAU:</p>
<p>I was probably 22.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Okay.</p>
<p>GARRY TRUDEAU:</p>
<p>Twenty-three.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>So this was--</p>
<p>GARRY TRUDEAU:</p>
<p>So I mean, it was inane thing to do. And most of them bit, most of them went for it and they checked the boxes and said, "Well, I guess you could write about marijuana, but no on abortion." And they sent back these questionnaires. But finally I got a letter back with no questionnaire from an editor who said, "It makes no difference what you write about if you approach it seriously and with purpose. And P.S., be funny."</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Right.</p>
<p>GARRY TRUDEAU:</p>
<p>There's no limit to what you can do in this medium. Now that's something I should've figured out on my own. But as I said, I was young.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>A reminder, you can watch my entire interview with Garry Trudeau on our website and hear more of what he has to say about Doonesbury and how Hunter S. Thompson, the late Hunter S. Thompson, was a huge inspiration for him, and why he tells young cartoonists that they might want to consider a different path. Up next here, we're back with End Game and the star of last night's White House Correspondents' Dinner, SNL's Cecily Strong.</p>
<p>CECILY STRONG (ON TAPE):</p>
<p>I took Amtrak here. It was way more luxurious than I thought. Did you know that they have massage seats available on this train? All you need to do is sit in front of Joe Biden.</p>
<p>***Commercial Break***</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>End Game time. Some of our panel are a bit bleary-eyed this morning, I'm talking to you, Governor. Last night of course was the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Helene, of course, she didn't have to party because The New York Times, they had no part of that dinner. But there were some fun highlights from President Obama and SNL's Cecily Strong.</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>PRESIDENT OBAMA:</p>
<p>After the midterm elections, my advisors asked me, "Mr. President, do you have a bucket list?" And I said, "Well, I have something that rhymes with bucket list." Take executive action on immigration? Bucket! I've got to stay focused on my job, because for many Americans, this is still a time of deep uncertainty. For example, I have one friend, just a few weeks ago, she was making millions of dollars a year, and she's now living out of a van in Iowa.</p>
<p>CECILY STRONG:</p>
<p>"It is great to be here at the Washington Hilton," is something a prostitute might say to a Congressman. Hillary's campaign slogan is, "It's your time," which I would assume is what she says into a mirror while she's dead lifting 200 pounds. After six years in office, your approval rating is at 48%. Not only that, your gray hair is at 85%. Your hair is so white now, it can talk back to the police.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Well, right after her standup routine, I caught up with Cecily Strong to see how she felt about this performance.</p>
<p>(BEGIN TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Grade the president, how'd he do last night?</p>
<p>CECILY STRONG:</p>
<p>I mean, I think he always does very well. Especially in that world. When he's making a speech and being funny, that's what he does really, really well.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>I've heard this from other comedians that they say, "The single hardest person to follow is the President of the United States."</p>
<p>CECILY STRONG:</p>
<p>Yeah, I've heard that from a lot of people too.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>And did you feel it?</p>
<p>CECILY STRONG:</p>
<p>Yes.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Did you feel that?</p>
<p>CECILY STRONG:</p>
<p>I did. I was kind of like, "Oh, that was really good, wasn't it? Oh, they are really liking him."</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>So he tells a joke, you said, "Oh jeez," crossing that one off the list, crossing that one--</p>
<p>(OVERTALK)</p>
<p>CECILY STRONG:</p>
<p>I kept checking in with my writers, I know where they were sitting, and I would go, "Should we keep it, cut it?" And so there were two I chose to cut.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You seemed cool as a cucumber. You showed no nervousness at all.</p>
<p>CECILY STRONG:</p>
<p>I think I'm a good faker.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Is that what it is?</p>
<p>CECILY STRONG:</p>
<p>Yeah. I think I always have been somewhere. I don't know how that's worked out for me. But it's, like, maybe the best thing I have going for me. I honestly, I feel like I can hardly remember what happened when I was up there. So I don't even know. I'll probably watch back and be like, "Oh, I thought that did really well."</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Will you watch your performance or no?</p>
<p>CECILY STRONG:</p>
<p>I think I'd watch this one. I'd be curious.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Yeah?</p>
<p>CECILY STRONG:</p>
<p>Because I honestly, I couldn't gauge it.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Would you do it now or are you going to wait?</p>
<p>CECILY STRONG:</p>
<p>No, I won't do it now. I'll go start drinking now. And then I'll start thinking later.</p>
<p>(END TAPE)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>All right, let me bring in the panel. A few of you were there. Governor, what do the folks in Arkansas, you think, think of this Washington festivities, whatever you want to call it, Oscar night in Washington?</p>
<p>GOV. ASA HUTCHINSON:</p>
<p>Peculiar. It's probably not the best politics to be here.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Right? You think it's going to, like, knock you down an approval rating or two?</p>
<p>GOV. ASA HUTCHINSON:</p>
<p>You never know. But at the same time, one, you salute the media, journalists, they're doing an extraordinary job in a dangerous world. But secondly, it's the time to really salute the president. And it's a lot of irreverence, but at the same time, you have Washington coming together. If Washington comes together, it's not a bad thing.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>No, it is. And you know, Doris, look, there's always been some hand-wringing. My own colleague, Tom Brokaw, feels as if the thing's gotten too big. And I feel that way sometimes. I miss it when it was a Washington dinner. It, I would argue, when our friends in New York and L.A. got involved, they're the ones that made this dinner too big.</p>
<p>(OVERTALK)</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>What do you think of that?</p>
<p>DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN:</p>
<p>I think there was something when it was more just the correspondents and the profession, the media. But now there this, who's the star that's running in? It takes something away. But nonetheless, there's something about the self-deprecating humor that everybody wants to hear.</p>
<p>Politicians build themselves up so much, when they can laugh at themselves. My favorite moment, when somebody said to Lincoln, "You're two-faced." And he said, "If I had two faces, do you think I'd be wearing this face?" Think of how that just, you know, and the other--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>That would've killed last night. That would've killed. Right.</p>
<p>DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN:</p>
<p>But think also that here was a woman emcee, 50 years ago, women couldn't even go to the White House Correspondents Dinner, until JFK, of course, said he wouldn't go unless a woman came. So we've made progress there too.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Forever, but two in the last five years when it comes to women comics.</p>
<p>HELENE COOPER:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>So it's real progress. What'd you think?</p>
<p>HELENE COOPER:</p>
<p>Why are you asking me this? You know I’m not allowed to go, it's killing me.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>--you got to watch it.</p>
<p>HELENE COOPER:</p>
<p>You're talking about your really fun prom--</p>
<p>MATT BAI:</p>
<p>Well, I paid for it.</p>
<p>HELENE COOPER:</p>
<p>I thought Obama was really funny. I loved the praying five times a day line. I thought it was hilarious.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>It is funny. He always does a Muslim joke.</p>
<p>HELENE COOPER:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>He always does a Muslim joke and it always kills.</p>
<p>HELENE COOPER:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>It always does. Matt, your favorite part of the night?</p>
<p>MATT BAI:</p>
<p>Oh, I hate the whole thing. It's--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>Oh, "I hate the whole thing?" Come on, did you go?</p>
<p>MATT BAI:</p>
<p>The jobs program for the low-rent tux industry in Washington. You know, but I think this president is probably the funniest president of our lifetime. Just whatever else anyone thinks of him, he's got great comic timing it's fun to see him talk.</p>
<p>HELENE COOPER:</p>
<p>I thought he was funny.</p>
<p>MATT BAI:</p>
<p>He was. But I think--</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>George W. Bush was funny.</p>
<p>HELENE COOPER:</p>
<p>Yeah, he was.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>You know, the problem is, he did something funny and then everybody got mad at the funny and the whole WMD thing. But--</p>
<p>MATT BAI:</p>
<p>That wasn't so funny.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>It wasn't funny then, and then he got afraid of trying to be funny again.</p>
<p>MATT BAI:</p>
<p>Yeah.</p>
<p>CHUCK TODD:</p>
<p>It was one of those things. Anyway, you guys were great. I appreciate it. That's all that we have for today. We'll be back next week, because as you know, if it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.</p>
| false | 3 |
april 26 2015 chuck todd sunday devastating earthquake nepal leaves least 2000 dead well latest also drone war barack obama bleed lose american life chuck todd vo american accidentally killed drone war immoral effective way take terrorists endangering american lives plus samesex marriage reaches supreme court perhaps final time ill joined former bush v gore foes joined forces fight marriage equality hillary clintons cash controversy damaging new money stories candidacy finally washingtons obsession cecily strong feels right woman follow president obama doesnt chuck todd vo interview correspondents dinner headline act snls cecily strong im chuck todd joining provide insight analysis sunday morning republican governor arkansas asa hutchinson pulitzerprize winning historian doris kearns goodwin helene cooper new york times pulitzer matt bai yahoo news welcome sunday meet press announcer nbc news washington meet press chuck todd chuck todd good morning get weeks politics discussion americas drone war one story dominating headlines across globe sunday desperate rescue efforts underway worst earthquake hit nepal 80 years struck near capital katmandu death toll 2000 includes 17 climbers killed avalanches mount everest fact one nepali journalist said sadness sinking lost temples history places grew latest lets go chief foreign correspondent richard engel kathmandu morning richard richard engel chuck kathmandu city people arent living inside homes every green space taken people afraid go homes sleep inside homes behind one biggest parks city park people sleeping cooking families sidewalks middle street theyre afraid could another major earthquake aftershocks felt today one aftershocks arrived happened landed airport going immigration suddenly building started shaking immigration officers ran away ran outside cover came back think people amazingly calm several hours weve weve seen people quite resilient taking take comes attitude still foreigners city situation isnt much better people living parks behind hotels operating status kind semievacuation hotels arent kicking guests nowhere go arent many flights guests stuck dont want guests go rooms especially upper floors guests sleeping lobby theyre sleeping lower hallways mostly theyre sleeping gardens parking lot front hotel dont know long going last like people ive speaking parks think might several days maybe week even mysterious situation mount everest climbers evacuated mount everest several least 17 including two americans killed think going learning exactly happened mount everest survivors come mountain debriefed teams go see happened chuck chuck todd richard thank much big news week one striking changes american foreign policy president obama major escalation drone strikes al qaeda targets pakistan yemen somalia controversy americans joined al qaeda targeted killed fact learned latest instant week white house revealed two american al qaeda leaders two hostages one italian one american killed drone strikes january yet one government used word drone strike politicians parties strangely reluctant even talk issue president obama bleed lose american life grieve innocent life taken chuck todd still lurking january 14th american aid worker warren weinstein kidnapped 2011 italian giovanni lo porto held since 2012 killed al qaeda compound pakistans remote shawal valley hit cia drone strike another american ahmad farouq deputy al qaeda commander also killed january 19th second strike killed american adam gadahn al qaedas top spokesman milliondollar bounty head josh earnest mr gadahn specifically targeted chuck todd problem us instances cia often know killing targeting highlevel al qaeda leadership two years ago president obama pledged scale back drone campaign president obama strike taken must near certainty civilians killed injured chuck todd socalled signature strikes continued thats cia files missile based pattern behavior people ground even know killing independent estimates 3800 people killed drones since 911 many 12 civilians cia director john brennan said month deaths overstated john brennan lot stories hear terms oh goodness hundreds civilians killed whatever lot propaganda put elements much opposed us coming helping chuck todd dispute drone wars hurting us prestige abroad 14 pakistanis view us favorably meanwhile washington week campaign trail deafening silence rand paul staged 13hour filibuster two years ago protest us drone policy time campaign issued sentence tragedy hostages lost lives prayers thoughts families reminder collective reluctance washington question president obamas covert war im joined tom donilon hes former national security advisor president obama room president made key decisions drone program early part presidency mr donilon welcome back meet press tom donilon good morning chuck thank chuck todd two strikes killed two hostages cia unaware two americans turned al qaeda operatives cia unaware happen tom donilon yeah well respect operations president declassified thursday two operations talked first case determination made military facilities actions taken result hundreds hours surveillance kinds analysis red teaming assessment true enemy facilities al qaeda compounds president disclosed thursday frequented al qaeda leadership therefore legitimate military target assessment correct president also publicly stated framework make determinations collateral damage killing innocents case turned wrong standard president put place high near certainty wont deaths injury civilian chuck todd didnt meet standards tom donilon well procedures protocol understand president said thursday followed standard respect whether military facility al qaeda operated threat forces accurate tragic unintended consequence hostages held one facilities took action near certainty standard looking absolute certainty war zone chuck going find president said take another look tragic accident obviously respect dr weinstein chuck todd say theyre bringing protocols announced may 2013 almost two years doesnt seem like many new protocols implemented know wanted refine repeal war resolution deal new protocol drone program reduction reduced drone strikes end 2014 done 2015 obviously think goal afghanistan war done withdrawal complete drone program would maybe completely end nearly end move cia pentagon well obviously didnt withdraw afghanistan havent moved program pentagon youd real congressional oversight tom donilon well real congressional oversight operations chuck todd right tom donilon yes chuck todd theres lot people dont believe tom donilon well correct oversight programs number one number two framework place indeed standard government makes judgment whether take strike right near certainty near certainty whether therell injury civilian case protocol followed turned inaccurate presidents asked review circumstance turned inaccurate theres doubt chuck effectiveness programs necessity operations chuck todd dont think drones killing terrorists drones unmanned isnt making terrorists tom donilon well chuck todd concern time tom donilon yes chuck todd dont believe thats happen tom donilon dont think thats case think case comprehensive effort united states al qaeda leadership resulted safer america fact weve able decimate al qaedas leadership weve able reduce threat forces afghanistan interest around world united states judgment absent operations like president described thursday absent kinds operations comprehensive effort al qaeda would action us interests perhaps homeland homeland dont doubt chuck todd lets talk constitutional rights two americans turned al qaeda operatives know legal issue bit murky according president didnt know targeting two individuals would known two americans turned al qaeda operatives would drone strike happened tom donilon well lets go analysis right two al qaeda senior operatives targeted number one targeted chuck todd known would drone strike happened tom donilon well let go right targeted targeted enemy facility afghanistan war theater thats first point targeted secondly american citizen goes abroad joins enemy wages war united states president said may 2013 speech get shield action united states chuck todd due process tom donilon well dont know american right chuck todd yeah tom donilon action enemy facility example example president gave someone whos sniper firing crowd get immunity shield taken swat team united states bottom line targeted action military facility fact united states decides engage action american know theyre american additional protections president laid including review justice department attorney general thats case overtalk chuck todd known americans drone strike wouldve least delayed got proper legal protocol tom donilon wouldve review judge shouldve review right respect independent reviewer reviewed additional review attorney general justice department respect ensuring constitutional statutory rights individuals protected chuck todd tom final question believe intelligence failure tom donilon view operation military facility based hundreds hours surveillance intelligence assessment al qaeda compound military facility war zone correct secondly respect near certainty standard respect civilian casualties case turned correct thats president asked review overtalk chuck todd failure intelligence failure tom donilon well didnt say intelligence failure chuck said protocols followed right accurate respect whether al qaeda facility fact hostages held difficult know obviously know spent lot time example working hunt osama bin laden took us years course several two administrations find tough business youre looking tragic two things important protect united states secondly look absolute certainty youre going find war setting chuck todd tom donilon home national security advisor thanks coming meet press appreciate views im joined micah zenko hes fellow council foreign relations expert drone warfare mr zenko welcome meet press let ask drone program stands necessary successful heard outlined mr donilon micah zenko well outline presumes assumption united states must continuously using military force wide array militant terrorist organizations start assumption would say binary policy choices white house presents either massive military occupation like iraq conduct drone strikes case become particularly wise ethical would say real question think united states conducting strikes since november 3rd 2002 50 president bush 475 president obama groups united states trying defeat eliminate either stay size grow move countries real question effective part comprehensive strategy mr donilon claims united states employed chuck todd unintended consequence believe able engage militarily basically robot drone without potentially risking blood treasure comes military hit micah zenko well compared weapons platforms drones inherent advantages persist targets extensively long times theyre responsive terms putting ammunition top facility car individual obviously dont place us service members degree risk subsequently since us first capability significantly lowers threshold civilian policy makers authorize use force something 425 drone strikes pakistan president wouldve ever authorized 425 manned aircraft raids pakistan special operators raids capability changes calculus president cia directors pentagon officials authorize use force chuck todd alternative drones would easier sell policy makers perhaps skeptical frankly somewhat dont know call pakistan fullfledged ally keep ally like pakistan upset micah zenko youre assuming united states must using military force youve made assumption drones become wise ethical theyre preferred method use military force bigger question actually used coordinated sort elements national power president obama fascinating observation day said need stop thinking counterterrorism isolation think development diplomacy education opportunities thats great recognition six years administration realize seem fall back default tactic method primary method use strikes fortunately drones become face us foreign policy countries strikes occur around world chuck todd right us basically lone country using drones much happens countries start using drones military use micah zenko well proliferating slowly countries developed employed instances british using usleased drones israelis use well president obama think correctly stated united states setting precedents principles hope countries adhere problem absence clarity transparency precedents principles clear fact outlying guidance president obama put forth may 2013 directly guiding us policy theres gap us justifies use drones actually employ every state followed sort perceived hypocrisy gap think would devastating lot us foreign policy interest global security generally chuck todd right micah zenko council foreign relations micah appreciate coming meet press sharing views micah zenko thank chuck todd come back legal odd couple ted olson david boies theyre fighting samesex marriage case hits supreme court tuesday commercial break chuck todd want 2016 presidential race lets face youre watching meet press must right well daily dose 2016 delivered right inbox newest offering lid get analysis insight nbc news political unit even kind funny sign head website promise wont disappointed later broadcast washingtons big selfcentered night got catch snls cecily strong moments performance white house correspondents dinner cecily strong tape feel like hardly remember happened dont even know ill probably watch back like ohi thought really well commercial break chuck todd welcome back tuesday debate gay marriage heads supreme court justices hear arguments whether individual states constitutionally ban samesex marriage eleven states district columbia passed legislation make samesex marriage legal another 25 forced legalize court decisions time theres dramatic change public opinion issue latest nbc newswall street journal poll 59 favor samesex marriage thats 41 five years ago next two guests david boies ted olson played crucial role fight marriage equality acting colead counsel landmark case 2008 overturned californias samesex ban proposition eight surprising time olsons conservative boies liberal old foes faced bush versus gore back famous supreme court case course 2000 elections theyre authors book proposition eight case redeeming dream case marriage equality mr boies mr olson welcome back meet press ted olson good chuck todd david let start prop eight case david boies right chuck todd believe supreme court stopped short basically making law land targeted california david boies think theres legal reason parts policy reason legal reason supreme court precedent people appealing decision really didnt standing werent injured werent adversely affected simply political point view thought marriages ought banned legal standing constitutional standing supreme court precedent really shouldnt may policy reason enforce let congress develop little bit point still less half country marriage equality overwhelmingly taken country last couple years weve seen tremendous movement think makes easier supreme court make total decision chuck todd mr olson possible supreme court could basically hate use phrase split baby say states recognize 50 states recognize samesex marriages individual states issue licenses ted olson dont believe thats going happen david pointed case proposition eight case came supreme court next day court heard federal defense marriage case decided day supreme court said defense marriage case called windsor case law like federal statute restricted rights individuals wished get married person demeaning disrespected relationship took little bit constitutional rights read supreme court said case theres really way supreme court come case thats argument tuesday first part case whether states recognize rights individuals wish get married state think end debate right chuck todd well seem obviously going states rights argument see federal government saying youve got recognize way works dont think theyll draw statesrights line ted olson dont supreme court said federal case talking much mentioned states rights talking impact individuals relationship children relationship took away rights made relationships less equal secondclass sorts things dont country dont take away rights individuals put box say less equal people chuck todd mr boies hear argument right says okay samesex marriage going become constitutionally legal supreme court constitutionally ban polygamy david boies chuck todd mean know going go david boies well chuck todd constitutionally ban polygamy david boies well first thats silly argument really equal rights saying cant deprive loving couple marriage simply based sexual orientation like cant deprive loving biracial couple right get married supreme court held many many years ago polygamy case situation youre going multiple partners theres sorts evidence harmful effects people participating children theres policy reason importantly theres legal reason youre discriminating anybody everybody gets one spouse long dont restrict based race gender sexual orientation everybodys treated equal constitution cant cant say people secondclass people marry person love one man one woman two men two women cant get married simply sexual orientation gender thats whats unconstitutional polygamy thing nothing ted olson overwhelming evidence case tried sexual orientation something thats immutable characteristic individual choosing multiple spouses choice part innate characteristic discriminating people sexual orientation polygamy nothing chuck todd alright im going make guys play supreme court pundits swing vote swing vote votes issue ted olson look decisions supreme court made defense marriage case earlier cases cited briefs theres five votes including justice kennedy justice ginsburg justice breyer justice sotomayor justice kagan think david talked case hoping nine justices would fall line case finally decided inherent rights individuals im still optimistic itll five votes count justices already decided defense marriage case explanation decided chuck todd david matter 54 63 know mean better different impact david boies think civil rights cases ought decided 90 81 way racial civil rights decisions largely made think overtalk chuck todd public thinks david boies exactly sends message country doesnt tolerate discrimination think justices sign better think look youre reading tea leaves youve got look windsor overtalk david boies think hard see one five majority justices windsor would decide case differently hand think little hard figure sure get one four dissented windsor chuck todd right david boies ted olson always pleasure ted olson thank chuck todd thank coming let bring panel course weve got republican governor arkansas asa hutchinson doris kearns goodwin helene cooper mr matt bai governor hutchinson let start went states rights argument front believe youre also attorney believe believe line draw saying federal question states recognize versus question whether states authorize gov asa hutchinson todd thought arguments persuasive previous discussion think way court look windsor case spoken gays treated part decision also deference states definition marriage thats historically recognition supreme court changed constitution hasnt changed lot things happened state courts majority states moved toward recognizing gay marriage done judicial fiat versus legislative process courts really forcing issue supreme court think little bit unpredictable think could continue give deference states think well probably clearly recognize happens another state well wait see governor chuck todd became interesting though put personal terms son religious freedom bill going sign son petitioned veto bill said know samesex marriage generational divide gov asa hutchinson well divide politically divide geographically im arkansas arkansas constitutional amendment defines marriage one man one woman thats conviction thats belief also recognize talk issue need talk terms tolerance need talk terms nondiscriminatory policy diversity workplace thats point making son generational divide chuck todd doris youre course historian doris kearns goodwin course chuck todd course course course movement history moved fast acceptance samesex marriage doris kearns goodwin astonishing think decade ago president clinton signed defense marriage act get civil unions vermont get massachusetts saying sex get states following one another think suggests something really important civic life prejudice discrimination come one group one class one race one people sexual orientation little others characterize prejudice stereotype gay people working sorts people children going school children straight people theyre part neighborhood harder say theyre begin feel sense desires passions thats makes healthy civic life think wonderful remarkable gay marriage gay rights happen society stop behind tribal barriers good thing chuck todd know helene tribal lately politics issue really could argue driven young folks helene cooper much whats also really interesting think many much experiential particularly look politicians see people coming say well actually opposed son told gay chuck todd rob portman story helene cooper think one driving forces soon put face issue esoteric lot people think movement mean think chuck todd right matt quick presidential politics question going get decision june think assumption likely going end legalizing samesex marriage 50 states matt bai right chuck todd year republican party going meet decision going constitutional amendment banning samesex marriage platform think going happen oneyear period think itll end nominee says know take matt bai yeah think mean obviously depends nominee extent like ive said elsewhere republicans wrong side obviously moved much quickly really theyve put bad position honestly honest one political establishment patting back either party issue one reasons moved quickly doris public really chuck todd public dragged matt bai absolutely know hubert humphrey walked 1948 democratic convention civil rights theres hubert humphrey political system issue know republicans necessarily far behind democrats making issue thats going set back years come think chuck todd right im going put pause button speaking little politics going get next segment coming clinton foundation money latest story major problem hillarys campaign much ado little commercial break chuck todd welcome back two weeks hillary clinton presidential campaign republicans journalists working frenzy new book clintons thats released called clinton cash peter schweizer alleges toocozy relationship donations clinton foundation clinton family speaking fees decisions made hillary clintons state department let bring panel discuss hospital damaging think helene let start allegations theres definitely theres c right theres argument okay trouble prove connection new york times paper big story russian issue uranium purchase theres connection appearance impropriety helene cooper thats biggest problem takes us back 90s feeds aura lot people clintons mean remember weve gone six years barack obama havent atmosphere know aura theres something going people talking lincoln bedroom people talking brings think dont think necessarily huge deal think feeds problem shes going continue brings sort didnt see earlier didnt take steps disassociate soon left state department went back know accepting clinton foundation sort distanced little bit went back taking donations didnt foresee mean everybody knew hillary clinton going run mean chuck todd thats mindboggling know matt bai jonathan chait whos conservative pundit hes well think pretty left center chuck todd new york magazine wrote sorts unproven worstcasescenario questions float around discussing book bestcase scenario writes bad enough clintons disorganized greedy called news week today time clintons fleshes one way another lack interest policing serious conflictofinterest problems arise overlapping roles matt bai right mean happy coincidence publishing schedule news cycle huh worked lookw lets clear dont think anyone voting hillary clinton whos going threat poses governing status quo political establishment right mean doesnt hurt voters perception know shes reformist presence barack obama think helene says arrogance think something know issue emails idea know youd never admit guilty never say youre sorry kill messenger tear everything chuck todd whole thing say hatchet job masquerading book sort like ron fournier points sort like standard playbook matt bai yeah matt bai standard playbook idea know fight ten times harder know whole line bringing knife gun fight right think doesnt wear well presidential politics particularly doesnt wear well something people already concerned candidacy concerned chuck todd know doris eight years ago democrats hand wringing publicly time theyre privately heard earful last night various democrats worked clinton campaign said still taking foreign donations foundation know narrowed okay theyre going take european countries canada theyve gotten rid despot states thats stuff boggles mind theyre afraid speaking doris kearns goodwin think still boggles mind doesnt hillary deal right know certain extent mitt romney saying bribery bribery means theft robbery means taking favors something corrupt cant let charge stand simply say wrong people telling teddy roosevelt accused similarly 1904 giving favors big corporations promising wouldnt antitrust gave everybody said dont say anything dont make legitimate gets stands said charge true id infamous would terrible thing false wickedly false atrociously false ended said give evidence evidence comes flying colors think answer chuck todd well governor hutchinson youre clintons home state accusations thrown time politically always survive think time different gov asa hutchinson impact base republican base impacts middle reminds everyone everything clintons complicated story three ramifications bear looking awful ungodly amount money involved transactions involves foreign source involves high positions government important decisions evidence quid pro quo republicans need careful overstate case reminds us clintons complicated tend make mistakes chuck todd well itll interesting see much happens democrats start going public talking bunch last night right come back weekend political satire one greatest political satirists time doonesburys garry trudeau thats coming commercial break chuck todd welcome back dont know garry trudeau definitely know work hes pulitzerprizewinning cartoonist creator politically famous comic strip doonesbury hes also executive producer amazon show alpha house earlier month may heard different reason accepting george polk award criticized work appeared french satirical magazine charlie hebdo course victims terror attack january year trudeau said magazines cartoons satirizing muhammad quote wandered realm hate speech started sitdown asking comments whether critics alleged felt victims blame tragedy begin tape garry trudeau oh know think perhaps shouldve made little clear outraged rest world time mourn deeply small fraternity political cartoonists around globe created tribute page sunday section included work five cartoonists including signatures main characters didnt necessarily agree decisions made brought really world pain france chuck todd religion red line issue garry trudeau entirely certainly wouldnt draw pictures prophet however done many cartoons satirizing specific terrorists taliban al qaeda plo years never received blowback muslim community understand im separating two chuck todd lets talk doonesbury garry trudeau yeah chuck todd impetus watergate vietnam era impetus garry trudeau dont know know career idea idea editor picked student newspaper junior year gave job still hold dont know thinking didnt know skill set people would associate creating comic strip think liked perspective thereafter id college editor clear sense could comics page couldnt know constantly kicked newspapers chuck todd yeah belong mean look remember growing would newspapers overtalk garry trudeau yeah selfishly overtalk chuck todd places like know washington post famously put style section garry trudeau editorial page chuck todd put inwhere belong garry trudeau know feel belongs comics page selfish reason thats readers jack anderson legendary columnist hes insist column appear comics page washington post thats readers early days red lines little less clear something incredibly inane put together questionnaire check list sent dozen highlevel editors around country said subjects think appropriate comics page know abortion marijuana politics rocknroll sex chuck todd im curious year remember garry trudeau probably 22 chuck todd okay garry trudeau twentythree chuck todd garry trudeau mean inane thing bit went checked boxes said well guess could write marijuana abortion sent back questionnaires finally got letter back questionnaire editor said makes difference write approach seriously purpose ps funny chuck todd right garry trudeau theres limit medium thats something shouldve figured said young end tape chuck todd reminder watch entire interview garry trudeau website hear say doonesbury hunter thompson late hunter thompson huge inspiration tells young cartoonists might want consider different path next back end game star last nights white house correspondents dinner snls cecily strong cecily strong tape took amtrak way luxurious thought know massage seats available train need sit front joe biden commercial break chuck todd end game time panel bit blearyeyed morning im talking governor last night course white house correspondents dinner helene course didnt party new york times part dinner fun highlights president obama snls cecily strong begin tape president obama midterm elections advisors asked mr president bucket list said well something rhymes bucket list take executive action immigration bucket ive got stay focused job many americans still time deep uncertainty example one friend weeks ago making millions dollars year shes living van iowa cecily strong great washington hilton something prostitute might say congressman hillarys campaign slogan time would assume says mirror shes dead lifting 200 pounds six years office approval rating 48 gray hair 85 hair white talk back police end tape chuck todd well right standup routine caught cecily strong see felt performance begin tape chuck todd grade president howd last night cecily strong mean think always well especially world hes making speech funny thats really really well chuck todd ive heard comedians say single hardest person follow president united states cecily strong yeah ive heard lot people chuck todd feel cecily strong yes chuck todd feel cecily strong kind like oh really good wasnt oh really liking chuck todd tells joke said oh jeez crossing one list crossing one overtalk cecily strong kept checking writers know sitting would go keep cut two chose cut chuck todd seemed cool cucumber showed nervousness cecily strong think im good faker chuck todd cecily strong yeah think always somewhere dont know thats worked like maybe best thing going honestly feel like hardly remember happened dont even know ill probably watch back like oh thought really well chuck todd watch performance cecily strong think id watch one id curious chuck todd yeah cecily strong honestly couldnt gauge chuck todd would going wait cecily strong wont ill go start drinking ill start thinking later end tape chuck todd right let bring panel governor folks arkansas think think washington festivities whatever want call oscar night washington gov asa hutchinson peculiar probably best politics chuck todd right think going like knock approval rating two gov asa hutchinson never know time one salute media journalists theyre extraordinary job dangerous world secondly time really salute president lot irreverence time washington coming together washington comes together bad thing chuck todd know doris look theres always handwringing colleague tom brokaw feels things gotten big feel way sometimes miss washington dinner would argue friends new york la got involved theyre ones made dinner big overtalk chuck todd think doris kearns goodwin think something correspondents profession media whos star thats running takes something away nonetheless theres something selfdeprecating humor everybody wants hear politicians build much laugh favorite moment somebody said lincoln youre twofaced said two faces think id wearing face think know chuck todd wouldve killed last night wouldve killed right doris kearns goodwin think also woman emcee 50 years ago women couldnt even go white house correspondents dinner jfk course said wouldnt go unless woman came weve made progress chuck todd forever two last five years comes women comics helene cooper yeah chuck todd real progress whatd think helene cooper asking know im allowed go killing chuck todd got watch helene cooper youre talking really fun prom matt bai well paid helene cooper thought obama really funny loved praying five times day line thought hilarious chuck todd funny always muslim joke helene cooper yeah chuck todd always muslim joke always kills helene cooper yeah chuck todd always matt favorite part night matt bai oh hate whole thing chuck todd oh hate whole thing come go matt bai jobs program lowrent tux industry washington know think president probably funniest president lifetime whatever else anyone thinks hes got great comic timing fun see talk helene cooper thought funny matt bai think chuck todd george w bush funny helene cooper yeah chuck todd know problem something funny everybody got mad funny whole wmd thing matt bai wasnt funny chuck todd wasnt funny got afraid trying funny matt bai yeah chuck todd one things anyway guys great appreciate thats today well back next week know sunday meet press
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<p>How Baptists around the world can best organize and mobilize for relief and development work was at the top of the&#160;agenda last week for more than 300 participants at the Baptist World Alliance’s Annual Gathering in Vancouver, British Columbia.</p>
<p>Last year, several relief organizations related to BWA member bodies created the Baptist Relief and Development Network (BReaD), which has raised concerns among some BWA leaders who see it as competing with BWAid, the relief arm of the BWA.</p>
<p>In response BWA president Paul Msiza last year assembled a task force to seek ways to reconcile differences and find a path forward. He reported in Vancouver that he expects the task force to issue its report next year. The group met multiple times in Vancouver and will meet again in October.</p>
<p>The topic sparked a couple of sessions marked by strong disagreements, but Msiza and leaders involved in BReaD and BWAid offered a hopeful tone by the week’s end. Msiza said the time in Vancouver brought “a positive and productive meeting” for the task force and he offered an “appeal for support and prayer” during the BWA gathering.</p>
<p>“This is about God’s work,” he said. “Relief and development is a ministry God has given to the church. We cannot fail to respond.”</p>
<p>This year’s gathering met during a period of leadership transition among Baptists in North America. Both the president and general secretary of the North American Baptist Fellowship, one of six regional BWA bodies, are ending their terms and successors beginning theirs.</p>
<p>Samuel Tolbert</p>
<p>Elijah Brown</p>
<p>Samuel Tolbert, president of the National Baptist Convention of America Inc., International, will serve as the new NABF president and assumed office during the meeting.</p>
<p>“I look forward to us being Baptists and doing the things that we need to do to further the cause of this North American Baptist Fellowship,” Tolbert said. “[We’re] trying to get more people engaged — not only pastors, but the laity, and both men and women and certainly the challenging area of young people in Baptist churches around North America.”</p>
<p>The NABF’s general secretary, George Bullard, also participated in his last meeting in that role. After seven years in the part-time staff position, he will retire from the position at the end of July. His successor, Elijah Brown, will officially start in October. Brown will also continue to serve as executive vice president of the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative, a human rights advocacy organization based in suburban Washington.</p>
<p>“We are a network well-positioned to continue as a powerful witness, calling forth a Christ-centered vision of missions and justice,” Brown said as he urged Baptists in North America to engage in critical global issues.</p>
<p>The NABF, which held one separate meeting during the Annual Gathering, also heard reports from Canadian Baptist leaders who provided cultural context to their nation and discussed ministry efforts among Canadian Baptists. The meeting also included a discussion of human trafficking and potential Baptist responses.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the BWA adopted three resolutions addressing key moral concerns. One dealt with “ministry to refugees,” a topic also considered in several forums during the week as Baptist bodies around the world reflected on ministering in the midst of record levels of displaced persons. In the resolution, the BWA urged “its member bodies, affiliated churches and individual believers to actively embrace opportunities for Christian ministry and witness that exemplify the biblical teaching to love the stranger.” The resolution also emphasized the importance of “Jesus’ teaching to love our neighbors as ourselves” and “being salt and light in ways that bring the values of our Lord into our culture.”</p>
<p>Another resolution addressed concerns about “violations of religious freedom in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region.” The resolution notes “people of faith and houses of worship have been intentionally targeted” and churches and mosques destroyed. The resolution offered support with Baptists in the region and urged action from the United Nations.</p>
<p>A final resolution addressed the signing of the Paris Agreement on climate change in April of 2016. The first universal climate agreement, it includes many legally binding provisions to curb carbon emissions.</p>
<p>“[The BWA] laments that climate change is a current reality, resulting in rising sea levels, droughts, the spread of diseases, more violent storms, disruptions to animal species and greater food insecurity,” the resolution declares. “[A]ll of us have contributed to historic carbon levels, damaging God’s creation and harming our global neighbors, and … those of us in nations contributing more to climate change need to listen to the stories of those already impacted.”</p>
<p>The resolution also “urges global Baptists to develop a vibrant theology of creation care, educating and advocating for practices based on love of neighbor over economic gain.”</p>
<p>Paul Msiza reported on his first year as BWA president during the BWA Annual Gathering last week. (Photo / Brian Kaylor)</p>
<p>As the meeting drew to a close, Msiza called it “a very positive and encouraging week.”</p>
<p>“It’s encouraging to see that there’s so much commitment to the work and life of the Baptist World Alliance,” said Msiza, a South African pastor.</p>
<p>Looking back on his first year as BWA president, Msiza noted “the unique stories” of various Baptists he met in his travels. He highlighted meeting “displaced persons” in Germany and the United States. He particularly celebrates “seeing what God is doing.”</p>
<p>“The best part of the past year is being in the places of ministry where the bodies are serving to see individual churches and pastors and members who are doing so much for the Lord,” he said. “In the midst of all this pain [in the world], the Baptist people are allowing God to use them to really impact lives.”</p>
<p>Msiza flashed a broad smile as he told about meeting Middle Eastern refugees in Germany who local Baptists welcomed into their homes. He remembered a teenage refugee who declared he had “seen God’s love in what the churches have done for them.”</p>
<p>“He talks as a young man who has walked and walked and crossed borders: ‘I know that God loves us because now we have clothes and food and a place for sleeping,’” Msiza quoted the teenager saying.</p>
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baptists around world best organize mobilize relief development work top the160agenda last week 300 participants baptist world alliances annual gathering vancouver british columbia last year several relief organizations related bwa member bodies created baptist relief development network bread raised concerns among bwa leaders see competing bwaid relief arm bwa response bwa president paul msiza last year assembled task force seek ways reconcile differences find path forward reported vancouver expects task force issue report next year group met multiple times vancouver meet october topic sparked couple sessions marked strong disagreements msiza leaders involved bread bwaid offered hopeful tone weeks end msiza said time vancouver brought positive productive meeting task force offered appeal support prayer bwa gathering gods work said relief development ministry god given church fail respond years gathering met period leadership transition among baptists north america president general secretary north american baptist fellowship one six regional bwa bodies ending terms successors beginning samuel tolbert elijah brown samuel tolbert president national baptist convention america inc international serve new nabf president assumed office meeting look forward us baptists things need cause north american baptist fellowship tolbert said trying get people engaged pastors laity men women certainly challenging area young people baptist churches around north america nabfs general secretary george bullard also participated last meeting role seven years parttime staff position retire position end july successor elijah brown officially start october brown also continue serve executive vice president 21st century wilberforce initiative human rights advocacy organization based suburban washington network wellpositioned continue powerful witness calling forth christcentered vision missions justice brown said urged baptists north america engage critical global issues nabf held one separate meeting annual gathering also heard reports canadian baptist leaders provided cultural context nation discussed ministry efforts among canadian baptists meeting also included discussion human trafficking potential baptist responses meanwhile bwa adopted three resolutions addressing key moral concerns one dealt ministry refugees topic also considered several forums week baptist bodies around world reflected ministering midst record levels displaced persons resolution bwa urged member bodies affiliated churches individual believers actively embrace opportunities christian ministry witness exemplify biblical teaching love stranger resolution also emphasized importance jesus teaching love neighbors salt light ways bring values lord culture another resolution addressed concerns violations religious freedom nigeria lake chad region resolution notes people faith houses worship intentionally targeted churches mosques destroyed resolution offered support baptists region urged action united nations final resolution addressed signing paris agreement climate change april 2016 first universal climate agreement includes many legally binding provisions curb carbon emissions bwa laments climate change current reality resulting rising sea levels droughts spread diseases violent storms disruptions animal species greater food insecurity resolution declares us contributed historic carbon levels damaging gods creation harming global neighbors us nations contributing climate change need listen stories already impacted resolution also urges global baptists develop vibrant theology creation care educating advocating practices based love neighbor economic gain paul msiza reported first year bwa president bwa annual gathering last week photo brian kaylor meeting drew close msiza called positive encouraging week encouraging see theres much commitment work life baptist world alliance said msiza south african pastor looking back first year bwa president msiza noted unique stories various baptists met travels highlighted meeting displaced persons germany united states particularly celebrates seeing god best part past year places ministry bodies serving see individual churches pastors members much lord said midst pain world baptist people allowing god use really impact lives msiza flashed broad smile told meeting middle eastern refugees germany local baptists welcomed homes remembered teenage refugee declared seen gods love churches done talks young man walked walked crossed borders know god loves us clothes food place sleeping msiza quoted teenager saying
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<p>On a magnificent fall Sabbath earlier this year, William E. Hatcher enjoyed a return to Mount Hermon Baptist Church in his native Bedford County.</p>
<p>The occasion was the church's 220th anniversary. The church was packed with members, former members and friends of the congregation; but Hatcher was unique among them all because he has been dead since 1912. As most of my faithful readers know, Hatcher is an alter ego of mine and my favorite historical character to portray for church anniversaries and other special occasions. And the day at Mount Hermon was special in every respect.</p>
<p>Hatcher was born “beneath the shadow of the Peaks of Otter”; and as a boy, he waivered between following his mother's people, the Lathams, and becoming a Presbyterian or joining his father's people as a Baptist. Obviously, the Hatchers won; and he became a regular attendant at Mount Hermon, which was known as Hatcher's Meetinghouse after his grandfather, Jeremiah.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Fred Anderson</p>
<p>In 1834, the year of Hatcher's birth, the church had reunited after a split. The year before, the church divided, according to a history written in 1939 by O.B. Falls, “because one group did not approve of the disciplinary measures.” The Strawberry Baptist Association helped in a reconciliation in which “each side was forced to acknowledge its wrong and the split was healed.”</p>
<p>As a boy, William Hatcher attended the protracted meetings, often sitting on “the anxious seats” or “the mourners' bench,” which was occupied by those struggling with a spiritual decision. “Father” William Harris was the pastor. Hatcher described him as “the very figure and form and glory of a fine old man” and pictured the “well rounded” man with long flowing white hair and smoking a long-stem pipe. “Fully 50 preachers came into service under his influence and he was everybody's friend.”</p>
<p>But it was another preacher who held forth when Hatcher made his profession of faith. Francis Barker, a son of Mount Hermon, possessed a powerful voice which Hatcher reckoned could be heard by “ten acres of people.” “I heard every word of the sermon and trembled as I heard. The people were singing and the crowd was standing up, but I sat still and hardly knew what I did.”</p>
<p>Deacon Falls, “a venerable gentleman,” sensed the boy's reluctance. He stooped down and whispered in Hatcher's ear, “Did you hear the call tonight?” “I heard it and felt that I ought to answer it but I could not start; something is holding me back.” The old man stretched out “his wrinkled old hand” and said, “Maybe that might help you to start.”</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Hatcher returns to Mount Hermon.</p>
<p>“There was his hand,” remembered Hatcher many years later, “stretched out to me and wide open and he was waiting. That made a difference and I put my hand in his and I got strength by his touch and was lifted to my feet by its grasp. That moment I took my first step, I put my back toward the world, I planted my feet on the Zion road.”</p>
<p>The helping hand lifted the boy and guided him into his faith decision. When Hatcher left Bedford for college, he continued on a road which led to greatness, as some people measure greatness. He certainly entered a life of service as a pastor of several prominent churches, a constant speaker and writer, leader in every good cause and eventually founder of Fork Union Military Academy. Two Virginia Baptist churches bear his name.</p>
<p>In real life, Hatcher made a few return visits to Bedford. In 1887 he visited the old homeplace where he was born. “It seems not the place it once was. We could have cried for sorrow that the orchard was gone forever. We roamed the hills, lingered at the rock-bound spring, sauntered through the woods, gazed at the quiet unchanging mountains and went again and again to the spot where sleeps the dust of our precious dead.”</p>
<p>If the real Hatcher had returned in 2007, he would have been pleased that the modest white church yet stands. If he had followed the crowds to the basement for the bountiful dinner-on-the-grounds, he would have looked up at the ceiling and wondered at the original massive support beams. He could have taken his plate of food out under the massive oak trees which probably sheltered him in youth. He would have met no one who actually knew him because they have all “gone to where congregations never break up and Sabbaths never come to an end.” But he would have met some of their descendants and recognized familiar surnames.</p>
<p>He would have been pleased with the spirit within the congregation. It is an easy mix of oldtimers and newcomers. Friendly smiles and hearty laughs are characteristic of Mount Hermon people. The membership is small, about 135, but the isolated location is beginning to experience a change as new residents build attractive homes. There are children and young people coming just as they did in Hatcher's youth and there is hope.</p>
<p>The church remains a generous contributor to missions.</p>
<p>Mark Flores, a tall and enthusiastic (and energetic) young bivocational minister, serves as pastor as well as a hospice chaplain. He resides in Lynchburg but sometimes can be seen running (yes, running) along the backroads between Lynchburg and Otterville on his way to and from church. When Hatcher arrived to occupy the pulpit for the anniversary Sunday, the church was so crowded that Flores folded his long legs and sat on the floor of the platform.</p>
<p>Mark Flores has brought a creative ministry to the ancient church. He led the church to create a website. Visit www.dewofhermon.org and experience the country church for yourself. Better yet, if you are within driving distance, visit the church. From Bedford, take Route 122, turn onto Otterville Road (643) and the church is 2.8 miles on the right. The ancient oaks will shelter you. The singing will be heard from the roadway and the doors will be open on any Sunday morning just as they have been for more years than anyone can calculate. And you will be “put to home” just as warmly as any son or daughter of Mount Hermon.</p>
<p>Fred Anderson may be contacted at [email protected] or at P.O. Box 34, University of Richmond, VA 23173.</p>
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magnificent fall sabbath earlier year william e hatcher enjoyed return mount hermon baptist church native bedford county occasion churchs 220th anniversary church packed members former members friends congregation hatcher unique among dead since 1912 faithful readers know hatcher alter ego mine favorite historical character portray church anniversaries special occasions day mount hermon special every respect hatcher born beneath shadow peaks otter boy waivered following mothers people lathams becoming presbyterian joining fathers people baptist obviously hatchers became regular attendant mount hermon known hatchers meetinghouse grandfather jeremiah fred anderson 1834 year hatchers birth church reunited split year church divided according history written 1939 ob falls one group approve disciplinary measures strawberry baptist association helped reconciliation side forced acknowledge wrong split healed boy william hatcher attended protracted meetings often sitting anxious seats mourners bench occupied struggling spiritual decision father william harris pastor hatcher described figure form glory fine old man pictured well rounded man long flowing white hair smoking longstem pipe fully 50 preachers came service influence everybodys friend another preacher held forth hatcher made profession faith francis barker son mount hermon possessed powerful voice hatcher reckoned could heard ten acres people heard every word sermon trembled heard people singing crowd standing sat still hardly knew deacon falls venerable gentleman sensed boys reluctance stooped whispered hatchers ear hear call tonight heard felt ought answer could start something holding back old man stretched wrinkled old hand said maybe might help start hatcher returns mount hermon hand remembered hatcher many years later stretched wide open waiting made difference put hand got strength touch lifted feet grasp moment took first step put back toward world planted feet zion road helping hand lifted boy guided faith decision hatcher left bedford college continued road led greatness people measure greatness certainly entered life service pastor several prominent churches constant speaker writer leader every good cause eventually founder fork union military academy two virginia baptist churches bear name real life hatcher made return visits bedford 1887 visited old homeplace born seems place could cried sorrow orchard gone forever roamed hills lingered rockbound spring sauntered woods gazed quiet unchanging mountains went spot sleeps dust precious dead real hatcher returned 2007 would pleased modest white church yet stands followed crowds basement bountiful dinneronthegrounds would looked ceiling wondered original massive support beams could taken plate food massive oak trees probably sheltered youth would met one actually knew gone congregations never break sabbaths never come end would met descendants recognized familiar surnames would pleased spirit within congregation easy mix oldtimers newcomers friendly smiles hearty laughs characteristic mount hermon people membership small 135 isolated location beginning experience change new residents build attractive homes children young people coming hatchers youth hope church remains generous contributor missions mark flores tall enthusiastic energetic young bivocational minister serves pastor well hospice chaplain resides lynchburg sometimes seen running yes running along backroads lynchburg otterville way church hatcher arrived occupy pulpit anniversary sunday church crowded flores folded long legs sat floor platform mark flores brought creative ministry ancient church led church create website visit wwwdewofhermonorg experience country church better yet within driving distance visit church bedford take route 122 turn onto otterville road 643 church 28 miles right ancient oaks shelter singing heard roadway doors open sunday morning years anyone calculate put home warmly son daughter mount hermon fred anderson may contacted fredandersonvbmborg po box 34 university richmond va 23173
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<p>Editor's note: This article is excerpted from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hun-Sen%C2%92s-Cambodia-Sebastian-Strangio/dp/0300190727/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1399428732&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=9780300190724" type="external">"Hun Sen’s Cambodia</a>" by Sebastian Strangio, published by Yale University Press on Nov. 25.</p>
<p>PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The police came at dawn, with truncheons and tear gas. Roused by her grandson, Noch Chhoun barely had time to get out of her home before the fighting started and the bulldozers arrived, demolishing her house and burying her family’s possessions under an avalanche of rubble and splintered wood. “If I didn’t wake up I would have died there,” the 72-year-old said, standing outside the forlorn shack she now occupies at a resettlement site on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, a flimsy assemblage of thin wooden poles, blue tarps, and strips of corrugated iron.</p>
<p>On Jan. 3, 2012, Chhoun and several hundred others were violently evicted from Borei Keila, a derelict former sporting complex in central Phnom Penh. The eviction followed months of standoffs between residents, city authorities, and security guards in the pay of Phanimex, a well-connected Cambodian firm with permission to develop the site.</p>
<p>Eventually the police moved in, firing rubber bullets and tear gas in a bid to dislodge the defiant residents, who responded by hurling bricks and setting tires alight. When the people retreated the bulldozers came, smashing down dozens of wooden homes and leveling two concrete apartment blocks. All that remained were smoking heaps of debris, which weeping residents picked over for clothes and other belongings. “Our property was totally destroyed. We couldn’t bring anything with us,” said Chhoun, a feisty old lady in a grey singlet and floppy white fisherman’s hat.</p>
<p>The displaced families were then trucked 28 miles out of town, dumped in an open field, and left to fend for themselves. Another woman, Sok Saroeun, wiped away a tear as she described her arrival at the desolate resettlement site. “Before we came it was still forest here,” she told me. “The families who didn’t have tents slept under the sky.”</p>
<p>A year later around a hundred families still eke out an existence at a sunbaked resettlement zone known as Srah Po village. The small community sits within sight of Cambodia’s precolonial capital, Oudong, a hilltop bristling with historic stupas and spires where pilgrims pray for blessings and good fortune. Here lie the remains of long-forgotten kings, alongside ornate reliquary houses and an urn said to contain the ashes of the Buddha.</p>
<p>Srah Po’s own existence is far less charmed. With the assistance of foreign charities, evictees have built rudimentary homes of thatch and corrugated iron. People have planted some scrawny trees and collect water at newly dug wells — another gift from the NGOs — but they live without power, drainage, or proper toilets. Stagnant water gathers in the gutters, overflowing into rivers of mud and effluent in the monsoon season.</p>
<p>The biggest problem, however, is jobs. After the eviction, Phanimex officials handed out starter kits for a new life — basic building materials, small amounts of cash, and a few sacks of rice — but people had few ways of sustaining themselves beyond that. At Borei Keila, most of Srah Po’s residents had lived off the city, selling noodles or fruit in the streets or working as moto-taxi drivers. Some of the men have since returned to Phnom Penh, where they scrounge a living and send a few dollars back home. Those who remain have nothing to do but await NGO handouts and maybe sell some basic goods — dried fish, prawn snacks, slices of sour green mango — that bring them a dollar or two per day.</p>
<p>Vich Kimen knew better than to protest. Two weeks before the eviction of Borei Keila, he packed his things and left for the resettlement site. With the help of his children, Kimen laid down a slab of concrete, erected a roof of wood and corrugated iron, and reassembled the small barbershop he had run at Borei Keila. He installed a wooden door and painted it dark blue. Inside he decorated the walls with photos of Cambodian fashion models and a few of his own paintings: two raunchy nudes, and another of a scaly green dragon and golden garuda flapping about a burning red sun. A small Sony TV and electric fan sit on his dusty cabinet, patiently awaiting the moment when the village is hooked up to the power supply.</p>
<p>“They’re just for display,” he said with a wry grin. Unlike most of the other families at Srah Po who fought the eviction, Kimen was one of the few to save his possessions from the bulldozers. “I felt making demonstrations was hopeless,” he told me. “When I saw the people burn tires and try to get compensation, I knew we wouldn’t get anything.”</p>
<p>The story of Borei Keila is the story of Cambodia’s capital writ large. The housing complex was built in the high noon of Prince Norodom Sihanouk’s rule, to house athletes visiting for the First Asian Games of the New Emerging Forces, or GANEFO, a showcase of non-aligned solidarity that was held in Phnom Penh in late 1966. (The name Borei Keila roughly means “sports center.”) Like the nearby Olympic Stadium, a modernist masterpiece completed two years earlier, it represented the future-leaning face of Sihanouk’s Cambodia. Its buildings were clean and symmetrical, set amid landscaped grounds and broad ornamental ponds, including a light-filled cafe, a gymnasium, and eight gleaming apartment blocks capable of housing 1,000 athletes. When civil war flared up in the early 1970s and Phnom Penh swelled with refugees, the complex was appropriated for use as a field hospital. Later, in the ghost capital of the Khmer Rouge, it hosted political training sessions.</p>
<p>When Phnom Penh was repopulated after 1979, the old land records had disappeared and people settled wherever they could find vacant land or housing. After a few years as a police training facility, the old athletes’ village was opened up to residents. By then it was in a decrepit state, its ponds filled with muck and its flagpole-lined entrance strewn with garbage. But people happily occupied the old athletes’ apartments, modifying them to suit their needs; others erected shacks on the surrounding land. They came, like thousands of other migrants from the countryside, in search of opportunity, earning a living as market vendors and moto-taxi drivers, hairdressers and construction workers. As the years went by the homes became more permanent. They were reinforced with brick and metal sheeting, and decorated with potted plants and spirit houses. Soon enough homes and apartments at Borei Keila were being bought, sold, and rented out.</p>
<p>It was only a matter of time before the site attracted the attention of developers. In 2003 Phanimex, a firm owned by a wealthy businesswoman named Suy Sophan, expressed an interest in acquiring the site. As part of a widely publicized program of “slum upgrades,” Hun Sen announced that Phanimex would be granted rights to develop part of the area in exchange for building ten new apartment blocks to accommodate the 1,776 families who would be displaced.</p>
<p>Anyone who owned a home at Borei Keila, or had rented for at least threeyears, was eligible for a new apartment. The city trumpeted the settlement as a symbol of the government’s commitment to the urban poor; land rights activists were optimistic that the authorities recognized the need to balance development against the interests of the city’s poorest residents. But in April 2010, after constructing eight of the ten buildings, Phanimex reneged on the agreement. Suddenly 384 Borei Keila families were left without housing. Most claimed they had lived in the area since the 1990s. Some had documentation proving their ownership or residence; others didn’t, or, like Noch Chhoun’s family, lost their documents when their homes were later demolished. The city then ordered them to leave, accusing the families of building illegal “temporary shelters” in a bid to obtain free housing. When the people refused to budge, the authorities resorted to force.</p>
<p>There was nothing much unique about Borei Keila. Similar disputes have occurred across Phnom Penh over the past decade, as political stability and economic growth have pushed up land values and triggered a frenzied grab for inner-city real estate. Since 1999 an estimated 150,000 people have been displaced from Phnom Penh—around 11 percent of the city’s current population. According to Sahmakum Teang Tnaut, an urban issues NGO, 54 resettlement sites now dot the outskirts of the city — dumping grounds for the displaced. These scattered colonies are plagued by poor infrastructure and a lack of social services. They very often lack proper sanitation and access to clean drinking water. Few are technically in the city at all: on average, they are 20 kilometers away, in a semirural no-man’s-land far from most urban amenities. Communities that live beyond the city’s water and electricity supplies are forced to pay between 4 and 16 times more to secure these from private suppliers.</p>
<p>Over the past 20 years Phnom Penh has been physically and socially transformed by urban land evictions and modern developments that have replaced “informal” city settlements with all the trappings of the rising Cambodian middle class: malls, hotels, gated communities, and the sprawling villas of the wealthy. The center of the city is populated by middle-class Cambodians and expatriates. Surrounding them is an outer ring inhabited by the displaced urban poor. Along with thousands of migrants who have flooded into the city from the countryside in search of jobs in garment factories or on construction sites, they form a new proletariat consigned to the periphery of Phnom Penh’s urban revolution.</p>
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editors note article excerpted hun sens cambodia sebastian strangio published yale university press nov 25 phnom penh cambodia police came dawn truncheons tear gas roused grandson noch chhoun barely time get home fighting started bulldozers arrived demolishing house burying familys possessions avalanche rubble splintered wood didnt wake would died 72yearold said standing outside forlorn shack occupies resettlement site outskirts phnom penh flimsy assemblage thin wooden poles blue tarps strips corrugated iron jan 3 2012 chhoun several hundred others violently evicted borei keila derelict former sporting complex central phnom penh eviction followed months standoffs residents city authorities security guards pay phanimex wellconnected cambodian firm permission develop site eventually police moved firing rubber bullets tear gas bid dislodge defiant residents responded hurling bricks setting tires alight people retreated bulldozers came smashing dozens wooden homes leveling two concrete apartment blocks remained smoking heaps debris weeping residents picked clothes belongings property totally destroyed couldnt bring anything us said chhoun feisty old lady grey singlet floppy white fishermans hat displaced families trucked 28 miles town dumped open field left fend another woman sok saroeun wiped away tear described arrival desolate resettlement site came still forest told families didnt tents slept sky year later around hundred families still eke existence sunbaked resettlement zone known srah po village small community sits within sight cambodias precolonial capital oudong hilltop bristling historic stupas spires pilgrims pray blessings good fortune lie remains longforgotten kings alongside ornate reliquary houses urn said contain ashes buddha srah pos existence far less charmed assistance foreign charities evictees built rudimentary homes thatch corrugated iron people planted scrawny trees collect water newly dug wells another gift ngos live without power drainage proper toilets stagnant water gathers gutters overflowing rivers mud effluent monsoon season biggest problem however jobs eviction phanimex officials handed starter kits new life basic building materials small amounts cash sacks rice people ways sustaining beyond borei keila srah pos residents lived city selling noodles fruit streets working mototaxi drivers men since returned phnom penh scrounge living send dollars back home remain nothing await ngo handouts maybe sell basic goods dried fish prawn snacks slices sour green mango bring dollar two per day vich kimen knew better protest two weeks eviction borei keila packed things left resettlement site help children kimen laid slab concrete erected roof wood corrugated iron reassembled small barbershop run borei keila installed wooden door painted dark blue inside decorated walls photos cambodian fashion models paintings two raunchy nudes another scaly green dragon golden garuda flapping burning red sun small sony tv electric fan sit dusty cabinet patiently awaiting moment village hooked power supply theyre display said wry grin unlike families srah po fought eviction kimen one save possessions bulldozers felt making demonstrations hopeless told saw people burn tires try get compensation knew wouldnt get anything story borei keila story cambodias capital writ large housing complex built high noon prince norodom sihanouks rule house athletes visiting first asian games new emerging forces ganefo showcase nonaligned solidarity held phnom penh late 1966 name borei keila roughly means sports center like nearby olympic stadium modernist masterpiece completed two years earlier represented futureleaning face sihanouks cambodia buildings clean symmetrical set amid landscaped grounds broad ornamental ponds including lightfilled cafe gymnasium eight gleaming apartment blocks capable housing 1000 athletes civil war flared early 1970s phnom penh swelled refugees complex appropriated use field hospital later ghost capital khmer rouge hosted political training sessions phnom penh repopulated 1979 old land records disappeared people settled wherever could find vacant land housing years police training facility old athletes village opened residents decrepit state ponds filled muck flagpolelined entrance strewn garbage people happily occupied old athletes apartments modifying suit needs others erected shacks surrounding land came like thousands migrants countryside search opportunity earning living market vendors mototaxi drivers hairdressers construction workers years went homes became permanent reinforced brick metal sheeting decorated potted plants spirit houses soon enough homes apartments borei keila bought sold rented matter time site attracted attention developers 2003 phanimex firm owned wealthy businesswoman named suy sophan expressed interest acquiring site part widely publicized program slum upgrades hun sen announced phanimex would granted rights develop part area exchange building ten new apartment blocks accommodate 1776 families would displaced anyone owned home borei keila rented least threeyears eligible new apartment city trumpeted settlement symbol governments commitment urban poor land rights activists optimistic authorities recognized need balance development interests citys poorest residents april 2010 constructing eight ten buildings phanimex reneged agreement suddenly 384 borei keila families left without housing claimed lived area since 1990s documentation proving ownership residence others didnt like noch chhouns family lost documents homes later demolished city ordered leave accusing families building illegal temporary shelters bid obtain free housing people refused budge authorities resorted force nothing much unique borei keila similar disputes occurred across phnom penh past decade political stability economic growth pushed land values triggered frenzied grab innercity real estate since 1999 estimated 150000 people displaced phnom penharound 11 percent citys current population according sahmakum teang tnaut urban issues ngo 54 resettlement sites dot outskirts city dumping grounds displaced scattered colonies plagued poor infrastructure lack social services often lack proper sanitation access clean drinking water technically city average 20 kilometers away semirural nomansland far urban amenities communities live beyond citys water electricity supplies forced pay 4 16 times secure private suppliers past 20 years phnom penh physically socially transformed urban land evictions modern developments replaced informal city settlements trappings rising cambodian middle class malls hotels gated communities sprawling villas wealthy center city populated middleclass cambodians expatriates surrounding outer ring inhabited displaced urban poor along thousands migrants flooded city countryside search jobs garment factories construction sites form new proletariat consigned periphery phnom penhs urban revolution
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<p>A year from now one of China’s greatest directors, Zhang Yimou, who captivated the world with his opening and closing ceremonies for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, will see his latest project open in US theaters.&#160;</p>
<p>Starring Matt Damon, Andy Lau and Willem Dafoe, “The Great Wall” will be Zhang’s first English-language film and, with a budget of $150 million, the largest Hollywood-China collaboration in history. It’s the most expensive Chinese movie ever made for an international audience.</p>
<p>But Hollywood’s recent collaborations with China have raised concerns that the US film industry is pandering to Chinese audiences — or more disturbingly, Chinese censors.</p>
<p>“It’s only natural for American moviemakers to try to please the cultural gatekeepers of the Chinese government,” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4WBsahU3X4%25255D" type="external">commented</a> The Late Show’s Stephen Colbert on the success of space thriller “The Martian” with Chinese viewers ( <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/article/6684505/2015/11/10/us-china-space-race" type="external">China’s space program</a> plays a crucial role in the film).</p>
<p>“They’ve been doing it for years,” he continued. “In the disaster movie ‘2012,’&#160;humanity is saved because the Chinese government had the foresight to build life-saving arks, and in ‘Gravity,’&#160;Sandra Bullock survives by getting herself to the Chinese space station.”</p>
<p>A <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzCN96j7K60" type="external">sequence</a> in the film “Looper,”&#160;originally set in Paris, was changed to Shanghai. In “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” dastardly Americans create the danger that the upstanding Chinese government must protect its people from. And just last month, Disney set up 500 life-sized Imperial Stormtrooper figures on a section of the Great Wall in a publicity stunt for the new Star Wars movie, whose release in China the company is still seeking to secure.</p>
<p>The reason why — money.</p>
<p>In 2014 the US and Canadian&#160;box office <a href="http://www.mpaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/MPAA-Theatrical-Market-Statistics-2014.pdf" type="external">made $10.4 billion compared to $4.8 billion in China</a> — but that’s a 5 percent decrease from the year before. Meanwhile, Chinese revenues jumped 34 percent. In the first half of 2015, takings are estimated to have risen <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-china-box-office-surges-50-in-first-half-of-2015-20150629-story.html" type="external">nearly 50 percent</a> year on year. In February, the Chinese box office beat the US box office for the first time to become the biggest movie market in the world that month.</p>
<p>Much of the growth is driven by American blockbusters. China is fast becoming Hollywood’s best customer, constituting <a href="http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&amp;country=CH&amp;id=fast7.htm" type="external">26 percent</a> of the total gross for "Furious 7"&#160;and <a href="http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&amp;country=CH&amp;id=transformers4.htm" type="external">29 percent</a> for "Transformers: Age of Extinction."&#160;Both movies made more in China than they did in the United States.</p>
<p>But there’s homegrown competition for the rapidly increasing fortune to be made from China’s moviegoers. This year the Chinese fantasy "Monster Hunt"&#160;became the highest-grossing film in the country’s history. Unsurprisingly, not everyone wants to watch foreign films all the time — particularly when the subtitles are <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/age-ultron-subtitles-baffle-chinese-795308" type="external">hilariously awful</a>.</p>
<p>Hollywood filmmakers, as a result, are more willing to cater to Chinese interests. Together with casting a kind light on China, studios also appease Chinese censors by avoiding even the merest slight — cutting, for instance, a scene from "Men in Black 3"&#160;in which a crowd of ethnic Chinese bystanders have their memories erased by a government agent, or one from "Skyfall"&#160;in which a French assassin kills a Chinese security guard, or even, in "Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation,"&#160;a shot in which Tom Cruise's character runs past some underwear hanging on a clothesline in Shanghai.</p>
<p>Such efforts are often clumsy, like the scene in "Iron Man 3,"&#160;absent from the international version, in which a Chinese doctor calls the hero's robot assistant and says, "Tony doesn't have to do this alone... China can help." Even Chinese state media <a href="http://media.people.com.cn/n/2013/0502/c40606-21336425.html" type="external">criticized</a> the hammy sequence.</p>
<p>Chinese viewers, too, can tell when they’re being pandered to. <a href="http://www.chinafile.com/reporting-opinion/culture/transformers-4-may-pander-china-america-still-wins" type="external">According to Ying Zhu</a>, professor of media culture at the College of Staten Island-CUNY and a leading authority on Chinese cinema, gratuitous product placements and pop star cameos “so haphazardly strung together that they are, at worst, insults and at best satire” leave many Chinese filmgoers feeling patronized.</p>
<p>But it’s not necessarily audiences that Hollywood needs to impress.</p>
<p>The director of China’s state-controlled film bureau, Zhang Hongshen, has said that China is at war with Hollywood. China’s propaganda chief, Liu Qibao, believes that Chinese movies should reflect the Chinese Dream. President Xi Jinping declared that art should be patriotic and that foreign films should be sanitized.</p>
<p>This summer, when Chinese war epic "The Hundred Regiments Offensive"&#160;was competing with "Terminator: Genisys,"&#160;industry executives allege that the state studio <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/china-film-execs-claim-terminator-820874" type="external">encouraged cinemas to commit fraud</a>, falsely propelling its film to the top of box-office charts. (The Chinese government attributed&#160;the movie’s success to patriotic fervor.)</p>
<p>Others have accused China of <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2011/07/15/revival-falls-short-at-the-box-office/" type="external">forcing state-owned companies to buy tickets</a> to produce similar results.</p>
<p>Part of the problem is that the country parades its garbage and hides its gold. Not including productions from Hong Kong and Taiwan, its mainland film industry has received two Academy Award nominations for Best Foreign Language film: "Ju Dou"&#160;in 1990 and 2002’s "Hero,"&#160;both directed by Zhang Yimou. Not only was "Ju Dou"&#160;banned for two years in China, Zhang himself was later temporarily barred from filmmaking.</p>
<p>Similarly, Jia Zhangke’s hard-hitting "A Touch of Sin,"&#160;maybe the best Chinese film of 2013, was denied a release in China (and therefore a shot at an Oscar nomination).</p>
<p>Liu Xiaoming, China’s ambassador to the UK, recently <a href="http://news.artnet.com/art-world/ambassador-china-ai-weiwei-art-342224" type="external">complained</a> that artist Ai Weiwei is only popular in the West because he criticizes the Chinese government. By banning its best films, China foregrounds their political import — and increases their chances of becoming a cause célèbre overseas. You could even argue that Chinese censors incentivize their best filmmakers to cater to Western tastes by criticizing the Chinese government.</p>
<p>China's growth almost guarantees Hollywood studios will continue to bow to Beijing's censors, while censorship encourages China's best to reach for Western audiences. Caught in such financial and political currents, directors like Zhang Yimou will continue to make movies that they hope at least one of the world's two biggest audiences will watch.</p>
<p>David Volodzko is based in Chengdu, China,&#160;where he writes&#160;for&#160; <a href="http://thediplomat.com/" type="external">The Diplomat</a>&#160;and is the author of the blog&#160; <a href="http://rationalconsent.com/author/sabragist/" type="external">Rational Consent</a>.</p>
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year one chinas greatest directors zhang yimou captivated world opening closing ceremonies 2008 beijing olympics see latest project open us theaters160 starring matt damon andy lau willem dafoe great wall zhangs first englishlanguage film budget 150 million largest hollywoodchina collaboration history expensive chinese movie ever made international audience hollywoods recent collaborations china raised concerns us film industry pandering chinese audiences disturbingly chinese censors natural american moviemakers try please cultural gatekeepers chinese government commented late shows stephen colbert success space thriller martian chinese viewers chinas space program plays crucial role film theyve years continued disaster movie 2012160humanity saved chinese government foresight build lifesaving arks gravity160sandra bullock survives getting chinese space station sequence film looper160originally set paris changed shanghai transformers age extinction dastardly americans create danger upstanding chinese government must protect people last month disney set 500 lifesized imperial stormtrooper figures section great wall publicity stunt new star wars movie whose release china company still seeking secure reason money 2014 us canadian160box office made 104 billion compared 48 billion china thats 5 percent decrease year meanwhile chinese revenues jumped 34 percent first half 2015 takings estimated risen nearly 50 percent year year february chinese box office beat us box office first time become biggest movie market world month much growth driven american blockbusters china fast becoming hollywoods best customer constituting 26 percent total gross furious 7160and 29 percent transformers age extinction160both movies made china united states theres homegrown competition rapidly increasing fortune made chinas moviegoers year chinese fantasy monster hunt160became highestgrossing film countrys history unsurprisingly everyone wants watch foreign films time particularly subtitles hilariously awful hollywood filmmakers result willing cater chinese interests together casting kind light china studios also appease chinese censors avoiding even merest slight cutting instance scene men black 3160in crowd ethnic chinese bystanders memories erased government agent one skyfall160in french assassin kills chinese security guard even mission impossible rogue nation160a shot tom cruises character runs past underwear hanging clothesline shanghai efforts often clumsy like scene iron man 3160absent international version chinese doctor calls heros robot assistant says tony doesnt alone china help even chinese state media criticized hammy sequence chinese viewers tell theyre pandered according ying zhu professor media culture college staten islandcuny leading authority chinese cinema gratuitous product placements pop star cameos haphazardly strung together worst insults best satire leave many chinese filmgoers feeling patronized necessarily audiences hollywood needs impress director chinas statecontrolled film bureau zhang hongshen said china war hollywood chinas propaganda chief liu qibao believes chinese movies reflect chinese dream president xi jinping declared art patriotic foreign films sanitized summer chinese war epic hundred regiments offensive160was competing terminator genisys160industry executives allege state studio encouraged cinemas commit fraud falsely propelling film top boxoffice charts chinese government attributed160the movies success patriotic fervor others accused china forcing stateowned companies buy tickets produce similar results part problem country parades garbage hides gold including productions hong kong taiwan mainland film industry received two academy award nominations best foreign language film ju dou160in 1990 2002s hero160both directed zhang yimou ju dou160banned two years china zhang later temporarily barred filmmaking similarly jia zhangkes hardhitting touch sin160maybe best chinese film 2013 denied release china therefore shot oscar nomination liu xiaoming chinas ambassador uk recently complained artist ai weiwei popular west criticizes chinese government banning best films china foregrounds political import increases chances becoming cause célèbre overseas could even argue chinese censors incentivize best filmmakers cater western tastes criticizing chinese government chinas growth almost guarantees hollywood studios continue bow beijings censors censorship encourages chinas best reach western audiences caught financial political currents directors like zhang yimou continue make movies hope least one worlds two biggest audiences watch david volodzko based chengdu china160where writes160for160 diplomat160and author blog160 rational consent
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<p>In its first round of grant-making, the Chicago Annenberg Challenge has awarded $2.5 million in school improvement grants to 35 school networks and their outside partners.</p>
<p>The 35 winners were winnowed from 89 groups that submitted full proposals; those 89 were selected by the Annenberg Challenge Board of Directors from 174 partnerships that submitted initial applications.</p>
<p>Over the next four years, the Annenberg Challenge will distribute a total of $49.2 million to school improvement programs across the city. To be eligible, schools must form networks with other schools and pair up with at least one outside institution.</p>
<p>Applicants must show how they plan to address three areas of school improvement: creating smaller learning environments so that children get more personalized teaching; setting aside more planning time for teachers; and collaborating with outside organizations to combat isolation.</p>
<p>The application process has been divided into two stages: a planning stage in which networks of at least two schools can receive money to plan a full-fledged program; and an implementation stage, in which networks that have developed plans will receive money to put their plans into action.</p>
<p>The $49.2 million was awarded to Chicago by publishing magnate Walter Annenberg as part of his $500 million Annenberg Challenge, a program aimed at improving urban and rural schools across the country.</p>
<p>To obtain information about applying for 1996 grants, call the Chicago Annenberg office at (312) 413-5869.</p>
<p>The following 13 partnerships received implementation grants:</p>
<p>BUILDING EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE Will develop and improve curriculum and assessment in preschool through 3rd grade. Partner, contact: Erikson Institute for Advanced Study in Child Development, Patty Horsch (312) 755-2250 Schools: Carter, McKay, Murphy, Salazar, Von Humboldt, Woodson South Grant: $150,000</p>
<p>COMER SCHOOL NETWORK Will expand the network of Comer Process schools to 11. The Comer Process focuses on improving the school climate and tackling the social problems that impede the education of inner-city children. Partner, contact: Youth Guidance, Vivian Loseth, (312) 435-3900 Schools: Brown, Chalmers, Dixon, Chase, Dodge, Haines, Herbert, Jefferson, Jordan, Nash, Riis Grant: $153,000</p>
<p>DUAL LANGUAGE EXCHANGE Aims to strengthen ties between schools that offer dual language programs (which teach all subjects in English and another language), and to improve dual language instruction. Partner: University of Illinois Contact: Eva Helwing, Inter-American Magnet, (312) 534-5490 Schools: Inter-American Magnet, Cesar Chavez, Lozano, Lloyd Grant: $102,000</p>
<p>LAKE VIEW ARTS AND EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP Plans to use the arts as a catalyst to engage students in learning. Partner, contact: Chicago Teachers’ Center, Northeastern Illinois University, Jackie Murphy, (312) 773-7330 Schools: Audobon, Blaine, Ravenswood Grant: $150,000</p>
<p>NETWORK FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Will focus on improving reading achievement in kindergarten through 3rd grade. Partner, contact: Designs for Change, Suzanne Davenport, (312) 857-9292 Schools: Barton, Gallistel, Bateman, Roque de Duprey, Galileo Grant: $200,000</p>
<p>ORR SCHOOL NETWORK The Network, begun with school reform, offers a host of programs to Orr High and its feeder elementary schools. Partner, contact: DePaul University Center for Urban Education, Barbara Radner, (312) 325-7171 Schools: Pablo Casals, Morse, Ryerson, Nobel, Laura Ward, Lowell, Piccolo Middle, Wright, Orr High Grant: $200,000</p>
<p>SMALL SCHOOLS NETWORK Plans to set up a small schools leadership academy run by and for teachers. Partner, contact: Small Schools Worskhop, Michael Klonsky, (312) 413-8066 Schools: Nicholson, Piccolo Elementary, Perspectives, Spry, Bethune, Overton, Harper High, DuSable High, Whitney Grant: $175,000</p>
<p>TEACHER INTEGRATED LEARNING THROUGH TECHNOLOGY Plans to use technology and the arts as a catalyst to higher achievement. Partner: Chicago Arts Partnership for Education Contact: Janis Todd, Lincoln Park High, (312) 534-8130 Schools: Lincoln Park High, Oscar Mayer, Alcott, LaSalle Grant: $140,000</p>
<p>BEST PRACTICE NETWORK Plans to restructure classrooms and use “best practices” to enhance achievement. Partner, contact: National-Louis University, Marilyn Bizar, (708) 475-1100 ext 2106 Schools: Field, Hendricks, Irving, Jenner, Nettelhorst, Walters Grant: $139,000</p>
<p>CENTER FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT Will focus on freeing up teachers’ time so that they can attend more staff development seminars. Partner, contact: University of Chicago, Sharon Rollow, (312) 702-4472 Schools: Cameron, Fernwood, Holmes, Park Manor, Sawyer, Philip Sheridan Grant: $200,000</p>
<p>THE PRACTITIONERS’ COLLABORATORY Plans to help teachers look more closely at their classroom practices and learn more effective teaching strategies. Partner, contact: North Central Regional Education Laboratory, Arie van der Ploeg, (708) 218-1076 Schools: Cassell, Edison, Hancock, Lenart, Whittier Grant: $100,000</p>
<p>SOUTH SHORE AFRICAN VILLAGE COLLABORATIVE Plans to improve education by enhancing ties to the larger South Shore community. Partner, contact: Coalition for Improved Education in South Shore, Marie Cobb, (312) 684-6070 Schools: Coles, Powell, Revere, Madison, O’Keefe, Parkside, Bryn Mawr, Mann, Bradwell, South Shore High Grant: $200,000</p>
<p>WOODLAWN SCHOOL-COMMUNITY NETWORK Will focus on more personalized teaching, creating parent support teams and enhancing student self-esteem and empowerment. Partner: Roosevelt University Contact: Weldon Beverly, Hyde Park High, (312) 535-0886 Schools: McCosh, Dumas, Wadsworth, Harte, Hyde Park High Grant: $135,300</p>
<p>The following networks received planning grants:</p>
<p>3D’S + HWC Partner: Harold Washington College Contact: Glossie Coleman, Doolittle East Elementary, (312) 535-1040 Schools: Doolittle West, Doolittle East, Donoghue Grant: $19,600</p>
<p>AMUNDSEN NETWORK Partner: Chicago Academy of Sciences Contact: Edward Klunk, Amundsen High, (312) 534-2320 Schools: Coonley, Trumbull, Amundsen High Grant: $17,600</p>
<p>CURRICULUM ARTICULATION, INTEGRATION AND ALIGNMENT PROJECT Partner: National-Louis University Contact: Deborah Clark, Skinner Elementary, (312) 534-7790 Schools: Whitney Young Magnet High, Skinner Grant: $25,000</p>
<p>MIDDLE GRADES NETWORK Partner: Association of Middle Schools Contact: Theresa Speegle, Thurgood Marshall Middle, (312) 534-5200 Schools: Albany Park Academy, Madero Middle, Marshall Middle Grant: $25,000</p>
<p>CHICAGO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM-UIC NETWORK Partner: Chicago Children’s Museum Contact: Michael Polak, Jahn Elementary, (312) 534-5500 Schools: Drummond, Jahn Grant: $25,000</p>
<p>MICRO-SOCIETY NETWORK Partner: National-Louis University Contact: Beverly Hides, Goethe Elementary, (312) 534-4135 Schools: Goethe, Reilly, Anderson, Julian High Grant: $25,000</p>
<p>JULIAN CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY Partner: Beverly Bank Contact: Linus Ogene, Julian High, (312) 535-5170 ext 119 Schools: Julian High, Anderson High Grant: $24,750</p>
<p>LITERACIES PROJECT FOR URBAN SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT Partner, contact: Bethune Teacher Center, Carol Lee, (312) 651-9217 Schools: Fenger High, Brennan Grant: $25,000</p>
<p>MIDDLE SCHOOLS INITIATIVES NETWORK Partner, contact: Chicago Teachers’ Center, Northeastern Illinois University, Anne Stapleton, (312) 733-7330 ext 318 Schools: Howe, Irving Park Middle, Lovett, Mozart Grant: $25,000</p>
<p>NANCY B JEFFERSON ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL Partner: Music Theater Workshop Contact: Frances Carroll, Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center School, (312) 433-7110 Schools: Jefferson Alternative, Healy, Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center School Grant: $25,000</p>
<p>NEAR NORTH SIDE SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY Partner: National-Louis University Contact: Monica Sullivan, Hawthorne Scholastic Academy, (312) 534-5550 Schools: Hawthorne Scholastic, Lincoln Grant: $25,000</p>
<p>NORTH LAWNDALE LEARNING COMMUNITY Partner, contact: Steans Family Foundation, Greg Darnieder, (312) 494-4513 Schools: Crown, Dvorak, Herzl, Johnson, Lawndale, Mason, Paderewski, Pope, Manley High Grant: $25,000</p>
<p>PLANET INTERFACE Partner: DePaul University Contact: Deborah Clark, Cleveland Elementary, (312) 534-5130 Schools: Cleveland, Henry, Palmer Grant: $25,000</p>
<p>KOCO CONSORTIUM Partner: Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization Contact: Winifred French, Reavis Elementary, (312) 535-1060 Schools: Reavis, Kozminski Grant: $25,000</p>
<p>REED-MCCORMICK-HOPKINS NETWORK Partner: Johns Hopkins University Contacts: Kandi Wethers, Reed Elementary, (312) 535-3075; Mariann Doherty, McCormick Elementary, (312) 535-7258 Schools: Reed, McCormick Grant: $25,000</p>
<p>CPS/CSU NETWORK: SCHOOLS WITHIN SCHOOLS Partner: Chicago State University Contact: Jacqueline Carothers, Van Vlissingen Elementary, (312) 535-5300 Schools: Pullman, Ashe, Van Vlissingen Grant: $24,940</p>
<p>SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITY NETWORK Partner, contact: Fund for Community Redevelopment and Revitalization, Victor Knight, (312) 363-4300 Schools: Carnegie, Fiske, Fermi, Fuller, Mollison, Murray, Ray, Shoesmith, Wirth, Kenwood Academy Grant: $22,155</p>
<p>EDUCATION CONNECTION NETWORK Partner: Great Books Foundation Contact: Connie Thomas, Dubois Elementary, (312) 535-5587 Schools: Dubois, Grissom Grant: $24,890</p>
<p>THE FLOWER CLUSTER Partner: Garfield Park Conservatory Contact: Dorothy Williams, Flower Vocational, (312) 534-6755 Schools: Flower Vocational, Michele Clark Middle, Hefferan, Sumner Grant: $25,000</p>
<p>UPTOWN SCHOOLS NETWORK Partner: Access 2000 Contact: Anna Corea, Stockton Elementary, (312) 534-2450 Schools: Stockton, Stewart, McCutcheon, Brennemann, Arai Middle Grant: $25,000</p>
<p>URBAN IMAGINATION NETWORK Partner, contact: Imagine Chicago, Bliss Browne, (312) 444-1913 Schools: Corliss High, Hope, Suder, Dewey, Locke, Terrell Grant: $25,000</p>
<p>PHILLIPS ACADEMY—BRONZEVILLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY Partner: Southside Partnership Contact: Sokoni Karanja, Centers for New Horizons, (312) 373-5700 Schools: Phillips Academy High, Foundations, Industrial Skills Center Grant: $24,900</p>
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first round grantmaking chicago annenberg challenge awarded 25 million school improvement grants 35 school networks outside partners 35 winners winnowed 89 groups submitted full proposals 89 selected annenberg challenge board directors 174 partnerships submitted initial applications next four years annenberg challenge distribute total 492 million school improvement programs across city eligible schools must form networks schools pair least one outside institution applicants must show plan address three areas school improvement creating smaller learning environments children get personalized teaching setting aside planning time teachers collaborating outside organizations combat isolation application process divided two stages planning stage networks least two schools receive money plan fullfledged program implementation stage networks developed plans receive money put plans action 492 million awarded chicago publishing magnate walter annenberg part 500 million annenberg challenge program aimed improving urban rural schools across country obtain information applying 1996 grants call chicago annenberg office 312 4135869 following 13 partnerships received implementation grants building early childhood centers excellence develop improve curriculum assessment preschool 3rd grade partner contact erikson institute advanced study child development patty horsch 312 7552250 schools carter mckay murphy salazar von humboldt woodson south grant 150000 comer school network expand network comer process schools 11 comer process focuses improving school climate tackling social problems impede education innercity children partner contact youth guidance vivian loseth 312 4353900 schools brown chalmers dixon chase dodge haines herbert jefferson jordan nash riis grant 153000 dual language exchange aims strengthen ties schools offer dual language programs teach subjects english another language improve dual language instruction partner university illinois contact eva helwing interamerican magnet 312 5345490 schools interamerican magnet cesar chavez lozano lloyd grant 102000 lake view arts education partnership plans use arts catalyst engage students learning partner contact chicago teachers center northeastern illinois university jackie murphy 312 7737330 schools audobon blaine ravenswood grant 150000 network leadership development focus improving reading achievement kindergarten 3rd grade partner contact designs change suzanne davenport 312 8579292 schools barton gallistel bateman roque de duprey galileo grant 200000 orr school network network begun school reform offers host programs orr high feeder elementary schools partner contact depaul university center urban education barbara radner 312 3257171 schools pablo casals morse ryerson nobel laura ward lowell piccolo middle wright orr high grant 200000 small schools network plans set small schools leadership academy run teachers partner contact small schools worskhop michael klonsky 312 4138066 schools nicholson piccolo elementary perspectives spry bethune overton harper high dusable high whitney grant 175000 teacher integrated learning technology plans use technology arts catalyst higher achievement partner chicago arts partnership education contact janis todd lincoln park high 312 5348130 schools lincoln park high oscar mayer alcott lasalle grant 140000 best practice network plans restructure classrooms use best practices enhance achievement partner contact nationallouis university marilyn bizar 708 4751100 ext 2106 schools field hendricks irving jenner nettelhorst walters grant 139000 center school improvement focus freeing teachers time attend staff development seminars partner contact university chicago sharon rollow 312 7024472 schools cameron fernwood holmes park manor sawyer philip sheridan grant 200000 practitioners collaboratory plans help teachers look closely classroom practices learn effective teaching strategies partner contact north central regional education laboratory arie van der ploeg 708 2181076 schools cassell edison hancock lenart whittier grant 100000 south shore african village collaborative plans improve education enhancing ties larger south shore community partner contact coalition improved education south shore marie cobb 312 6846070 schools coles powell revere madison okeefe parkside bryn mawr mann bradwell south shore high grant 200000 woodlawn schoolcommunity network focus personalized teaching creating parent support teams enhancing student selfesteem empowerment partner roosevelt university contact weldon beverly hyde park high 312 5350886 schools mccosh dumas wadsworth harte hyde park high grant 135300 following networks received planning grants 3ds hwc partner harold washington college contact glossie coleman doolittle east elementary 312 5351040 schools doolittle west doolittle east donoghue grant 19600 amundsen network partner chicago academy sciences contact edward klunk amundsen high 312 5342320 schools coonley trumbull amundsen high grant 17600 curriculum articulation integration alignment project partner nationallouis university contact deborah clark skinner elementary 312 5347790 schools whitney young magnet high skinner grant 25000 middle grades network partner association middle schools contact theresa speegle thurgood marshall middle 312 5345200 schools albany park academy madero middle marshall middle grant 25000 chicago childrens museumuic network partner chicago childrens museum contact michael polak jahn elementary 312 5345500 schools drummond jahn grant 25000 microsociety network partner nationallouis university contact beverly hides goethe elementary 312 5344135 schools goethe reilly anderson julian high grant 25000 julian center international technology partner beverly bank contact linus ogene julian high 312 5355170 ext 119 schools julian high anderson high grant 24750 literacies project urban school development partner contact bethune teacher center carol lee 312 6519217 schools fenger high brennan grant 25000 middle schools initiatives network partner contact chicago teachers center northeastern illinois university anne stapleton 312 7337330 ext 318 schools howe irving park middle lovett mozart grant 25000 nancy b jefferson alternative school partner music theater workshop contact frances carroll cook county juvenile temporary detention center school 312 4337110 schools jefferson alternative healy cook county juvenile temporary detention center school grant 25000 near north side sciences technology partner nationallouis university contact monica sullivan hawthorne scholastic academy 312 5345550 schools hawthorne scholastic lincoln grant 25000 north lawndale learning community partner contact steans family foundation greg darnieder 312 4944513 schools crown dvorak herzl johnson lawndale mason paderewski pope manley high grant 25000 planet interface partner depaul university contact deborah clark cleveland elementary 312 5345130 schools cleveland henry palmer grant 25000 koco consortium partner kenwoodoakland community organization contact winifred french reavis elementary 312 5351060 schools reavis kozminski grant 25000 reedmccormickhopkins network partner johns hopkins university contacts kandi wethers reed elementary 312 5353075 mariann doherty mccormick elementary 312 5357258 schools reed mccormick grant 25000 cpscsu network schools within schools partner chicago state university contact jacqueline carothers van vlissingen elementary 312 5355300 schools pullman ashe van vlissingen grant 24940 south side community network partner contact fund community redevelopment revitalization victor knight 312 3634300 schools carnegie fiske fermi fuller mollison murray ray shoesmith wirth kenwood academy grant 22155 education connection network partner great books foundation contact connie thomas dubois elementary 312 5355587 schools dubois grissom grant 24890 flower cluster partner garfield park conservatory contact dorothy williams flower vocational 312 5346755 schools flower vocational michele clark middle hefferan sumner grant 25000 uptown schools network partner access 2000 contact anna corea stockton elementary 312 5342450 schools stockton stewart mccutcheon brennemann arai middle grant 25000 urban imagination network partner contact imagine chicago bliss browne 312 4441913 schools corliss high hope suder dewey locke terrell grant 25000 phillips academybronzeville development strategy partner southside partnership contact sokoni karanja centers new horizons 312 3735700 schools phillips academy high foundations industrial skills center grant 24900
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<p>By Nora O. Lozano</p>
<p>La versión en español está disponible <a href="opinion/columns/item/30782-feliz-noche-buena" type="external">aquí</a>.</p>
<p>There are certain experiences that mark you forever. I had one of those five years ago. It was Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010, and I was supposed to fly from London Heathrow to San Antonio, Texas. I had been in Oxford for a week, working as a member of the Baptist World Alliance team that held theological conversations with the Catholic Church (Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity).</p>
<p>I had truly enjoyed the previous four yearly sessions, but this was one I dreaded because 2010 had been a challenging year on many fronts. In addition, I knew that it was going to be very cold, that we were going to work long hours, and the date was so close to Christmas. By the end of the week I was exhausted, and more than ready to go home.</p>
<p>Early on Saturday morning, I took a bus to London Heathrow, and observed that the snow was getting heavier. I arrived to the airport on time, and waited, and waited for my departure —&#160;until the screen showed that all flights had been canceled. I was caught in the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/18/europe-snow-storm-closes-airports-_n_798729.html" type="external">famous 2010 blizzard</a> that paralyzed most of England and a good portion of Europe.</p>
<p>Immediately after the cancellation announcements, the airport became chaotic. All passengers were required to exit the secured areas and collect their luggage. Hundreds of people were going back and forth trying to find solutions to their transportation, shelter and food needs. Thankfully, with the help of my sister in the United States, I was able to rebook my flight for Monday.</p>
<p>At that point it was impossible to leave the airport. So, I too, proceeded to cover my basic needs for the next two days. The airport was so cold as the automatic doors kept swinging back and forth letting in a constant chilly draft. I found the best possible place, and sat on the floor waiting for time to pass. By the time that I arrived home, I had been traveling for 74 hours, and had spent three nights and days in airports and flights. No shower, no bed, no privacy and long hours of waiting on the floor. I was grateful that I had a good book with me.</p>
<p>It was an awful experience, and it created a phobia of airports and traveling that lasted for months.</p>
<p>Did anything good come from this experience? After months of reflecting, I realized that I had gained the rare opportunity to experience, to a certain degree, what homeless people go through. I was by myself. At that time I did not have an international cell phone, and wi-fi was not generalized as it is today, so I was isolated from people who knew me. In England no one was looking for me or expecting me (later I learned that BWA officials and team members were desperately searching for me). I had to constantly carry my belongings, and guard my little floor space where I did my dwelling. The first night, the airport restaurants ran out of food. At a certain point, I was so tired and needed to sleep. Thankfully I had a belt with me, so I lay down on my little floor spot, tied my suitcase, briefcase and backpack to my leg, and went to sleep for hours.</p>
<p>Yes, to a certain extent, I was able to identify with some of the struggles that homeless people go through. They are isolated from family members, without an established living space, constantly carrying their belongings and trying to cover their basic needs. Without this experience, most likely I would have never gained this level of identification.</p>
<p>What I also gained was a broader understanding of the incarnation. It was necessary for humans to believe that God truly identifies with us. It was also needed in order to provide us, too, with the possibility of identifying with the Divine.</p>
<p>When the Word became flesh, God became a true human (John 1:14). Because of this, Jesus is able to understand and identify with our struggles in profound, mysterious and diverse ways. Black theologian James Cone recognizes that Jesus was Jewish. However, he claims, too, that Jesus becomes black when he enters into the black experience of oppression in order to save black people in their particular context. In a similar way, Mexican-American theologian Virgilio Elizondo affirms that Jesus was a cultural mestizo (mixed one), from a despised region (John 1:46), and with an accent (Matt. 26:73). As such, he is able to identify with the struggles that Mexican-Americans, Latinos/as and migrants/refugees experience in the United States.</p>
<p>Since Jesus understands so well what it is to be a human, he identifies deeply with all human struggles. He knows what we are going through, and because of this, he is constantly interceding for us (Heb. 4:15 and 7:25).</p>
<p>But through the incarnation, we, human beings, have the possibility of identifying with God, too. By observing Jesus, God’s most complete revelation (Heb. 1:1-3), we learn that love, compassion, peace and justice are high priorities in God’s scheme of salvation. We realize, too, that we are invited to join in God’s project of liberation and abundant life for all of God’s children.</p>
<p>In addition, by identifying with God’s priorities, we are able to gain a much needed sense of hope. Given the reality of today’s world, this hope is our only path to new dreams and visions for a better future. Furthermore, we learn that the only way to materialize this hope is by investing our lives in loving relationships with God and our neighbors.</p>
<p>While my experience at the airport was involuntary, God’s incarnation is admirable because it was voluntary. It was not easy, but God loved us so much that he decided to become one of us!</p>
<p>In many Latin American countries, Christmas Eve is called “la Noche Buena” (the good night), and poinsettias are recognized as “la flor de Noche Buena” (good night flower). I like these names because it was indeed a good night: when God became human out of love to bring us salvation and hope.</p>
<p>This is the real celebration of the season: God becoming one of us, so that humanity could be blessed and transformed forever. This transformation is still in process. Let’s celebrate “la Noche Buena” by joyfully embracing God’s salvation, and faithfully joining in God’s project of liberation and hope for all humankind. Amen!</p>
<p>Feliz Noche Buena for you and your loved ones!</p>
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nora lozano la versión en español está disponible aquí certain experiences mark forever one five years ago saturday dec 18 2010 supposed fly london heathrow san antonio texas oxford week working member baptist world alliance team held theological conversations catholic church pontifical council promoting christian unity truly enjoyed previous four yearly sessions one dreaded 2010 challenging year many fronts addition knew going cold going work long hours date close christmas end week exhausted ready go home early saturday morning took bus london heathrow observed snow getting heavier arrived airport time waited waited departure 160until screen showed flights canceled caught famous 2010 blizzard paralyzed england good portion europe immediately cancellation announcements airport became chaotic passengers required exit secured areas collect luggage hundreds people going back forth trying find solutions transportation shelter food needs thankfully help sister united states able rebook flight monday point impossible leave airport proceeded cover basic needs next two days airport cold automatic doors kept swinging back forth letting constant chilly draft found best possible place sat floor waiting time pass time arrived home traveling 74 hours spent three nights days airports flights shower bed privacy long hours waiting floor grateful good book awful experience created phobia airports traveling lasted months anything good come experience months reflecting realized gained rare opportunity experience certain degree homeless people go time international cell phone wifi generalized today isolated people knew england one looking expecting later learned bwa officials team members desperately searching constantly carry belongings guard little floor space dwelling first night airport restaurants ran food certain point tired needed sleep thankfully belt lay little floor spot tied suitcase briefcase backpack leg went sleep hours yes certain extent able identify struggles homeless people go isolated family members without established living space constantly carrying belongings trying cover basic needs without experience likely would never gained level identification also gained broader understanding incarnation necessary humans believe god truly identifies us also needed order provide us possibility identifying divine word became flesh god became true human john 114 jesus able understand identify struggles profound mysterious diverse ways black theologian james cone recognizes jesus jewish however claims jesus becomes black enters black experience oppression order save black people particular context similar way mexicanamerican theologian virgilio elizondo affirms jesus cultural mestizo mixed one despised region john 146 accent matt 2673 able identify struggles mexicanamericans latinosas migrantsrefugees experience united states since jesus understands well human identifies deeply human struggles knows going constantly interceding us heb 415 725 incarnation human beings possibility identifying god observing jesus gods complete revelation heb 113 learn love compassion peace justice high priorities gods scheme salvation realize invited join gods project liberation abundant life gods children addition identifying gods priorities able gain much needed sense hope given reality todays world hope path new dreams visions better future furthermore learn way materialize hope investing lives loving relationships god neighbors experience airport involuntary gods incarnation admirable voluntary easy god loved us much decided become one us many latin american countries christmas eve called la noche buena good night poinsettias recognized la flor de noche buena good night flower like names indeed good night god became human love bring us salvation hope real celebration season god becoming one us humanity could blessed transformed forever transformation still process lets celebrate la noche buena joyfully embracing gods salvation faithfully joining gods project liberation hope humankind amen feliz noche buena loved ones
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<p>March 1, 2013</p>
<p>By Katy Grimes</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>California Assembly leaders enjoy an&#160;annual slush fund of $38 million. It’s money they can do with however they please.</p>
<p>The Assembly’s operating budget was $112 million for the 2011-12 fiscal year that ended June 30, 2012. But $150 million was appropriated. The remaining $38 million was spent at the discretion of Assembly Speaker John Perez, D-Los Angeles.&#160;</p>
<p>It’s like a giant, sugary slushy.</p>
<p>In 2011 and <a href="" type="internal">2012</a>,&#160;I reported on the Democratic stonewalling done to then-Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-La Canada, when he tried to get Perez to release the entire Assembly budget, including the “discretionary” spending, in a move toward transparency.&#160;Portantino was stonewalled and punished.</p>
<p>I just spoke with Phillip Ung, <a href="http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&amp;b=4846185" type="external">California Common Cause</a> policy advocate, about this gigantic fund of unaccountable millions, and how this happens every year without intervention, exposure or accountability. Ung said that the Assembly has no oversight other than itself.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/rules/assembly_rules.pdf" type="external">Assembly Rule 15.7</a> requires an annual performance audit in addition to a financial audit. But Assembly leaders have historically ignored this rule.</p>
<p>Perez&#160; <a href="http://asmdc.org/news-room/releases-a-statements/item/428-announcement-by-speaker-john-a-perez-on-formation-of-legislative-records-task-force" type="external">formed a legislative records task force late in 2011</a>&#160;after the Sacramento Bee and the Los Angeles Times filed a lawsuit demanding the operating records. In a move which can only be described as the fox guarding the henhouse, Perez named Assembly Rules Committee Chairwoman Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, as its leader.&#160;Assembly operations are controlled by Perez and the committee.</p>
<p>The task force did nothing in 2011 other than release doctored records of Assembly members’ office spending, specifically targeting Portantino.</p>
<p>Early in 2012, Portantino demanded the release of&#160;all&#160;Assembly records to the public. But Skinner’s committee denied his request, saying the Assembly’s letters and correspondences are exempt from transparency under the law.</p>
<p>As of April 2012, when I wrote my last story about the task force, there were still no records available of any meetings.&#160;To date, finding any information about the task force is difficult. I contacted Skinner’s office for a status update of the task force. The two staff members I spoke with said they couldn’t locate any information about the task force, and referred me to Perez’s office.</p>
<p>“The Speaker’s committee on transparency is secret,” Portantino told me in April 2012. “The minutes on the committee…secret. We don’t know if they’ve ever even met. Members should be embracing transparency. It’s not a radical concept.”</p>
<p>The Assembly Rules Committee then killed&#160;Portantino’s <a href="" type="internal">AB 1887</a>, which would have required the state controller to audit the spending by the Legislature for the next two years.&#160; Thereafter, an independent firm would perform the annual audits.</p>
<p>“We celebrate when the auditor audits Bell, CA,” Portantino said. “We are an agency which budgets more than we need for a slush fund.”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/Bills/AB_1887/20112012/" type="external">AB 1887</a> also would have required the Legislature to return any of the $146 million not spent. However, without that law, Perez gets to decide where and how the money gets spent.</p>
<p>In 2011, leaders in the Assembly and Senate authorized $200,000 for lawyers to keep the information secret in the fight over records, according to Portantino.</p>
<p>One of the&#160; <a href="http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/rules/assembly_rules.pdf" type="external">Standing Rules of the Assembly</a>&#160;calls for an annual performance audit of the Assembly. But in 2011, Trent Hager, Portantino’s chief of staff, told me the Assembly has never actually complied with this rule. And Hager ought to know because he worked for the Rules Committee for many years.</p>
<p>The rule reads:</p>
<p>“ <a href="http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/rules/assembly_rules.pdf" type="external">Performance Audi</a>t&#160;— 15.7.&#160;In addition to the annual financial audit required by Rule 15.6, the Committee on Rules shall contract for an audit of the administrative operations of the Assembly. The administrative departments to be audited shall be determined by the Committee on Rules. An organization performing an audit pursuant to this rule shall be selected by a majority of the membership of the Committee on Rules. A contract for an audit shall be awarded through a competitive bidding procedure. Audits shall be prepared in a manner and form to be determined by the organization performing the audit, and shall be consistent with generally accepted accounting principles.</p>
<p>“All findings and recommendations reported by an auditing firm shall be made available to Members and to the public.”</p>
<p>One of the reasons for secrecy may be the worst kept secret in the Capitol — the numbers of Capitol staffers on the payroll of the Legislature who actually <a href="" type="internal">work on political campaigns</a>, something banned by law.</p>
<p>Ung explained that most of the slush fund money goes to pet issues of the Assembly leaders. Rules governing the slush fund, which is contained in the Assembly operating budget, are “vague and ambiguous,” making it easy for abuse. And Ung said it’s highly questionable to send money from the slush fund to various state agencies without an Assembly vote.</p>
<p>That’s just how the Assembly obtains its surplus, according to a <a href="http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/11/09/Demas%20Dec%20Times%20v%20Legis.pdf" type="external">2011 signed court declaration</a>by Gus Demas, then fiscal officer for the Assembly Rules Committee. The details of the budget on the state website do not include the slush fund. But some expenditures were reported by the Daily News, which got&#160;ahold&#160; <a href="http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/pdf/GovernorsBudget/0010/0100.pdf" type="external">state budget documents</a>:</p>
<p>The California Commission on the Status of Women ($150,000);</p>
<p>The California Conservation Corps ($680,000);</p>
<p>The California Military Department ($800,000);</p>
<p>The California State University system ($400,000);</p>
<p>The Department of Education ($8 million); and</p>
<p>The Department of Parks and Recreation ($1.5 million).</p>
<p>Other recipients were the Secretary of State’s Office and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.</p>
<p>Assembly leaders have spent more than $73 million of the slush fund since December 2009.</p>
<p>According to <a href="http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/11/09/Demas%20Dec%20Times%20v%20Legis.pdf" type="external">Demas’ court declaration</a>, Assembly leaders gave $55 million to state agencies between December 2008 and August 2011.&#160;Perez spent another $21 million between December 2011 and Aug. 31, 2012, according to state budget documents.</p>
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march 1 2013 katy grimes california assembly leaders enjoy an160annual slush fund 38 million money however please assemblys operating budget 112 million 201112 fiscal year ended june 30 2012 150 million appropriated remaining 38 million spent discretion assembly speaker john perez dlos angeles160 like giant sugary slushy 2011 2012160i reported democratic stonewalling done thenassemblyman anthony portantino dla canada tried get perez release entire assembly budget including discretionary spending move toward transparency160portantino stonewalled punished spoke phillip ung california common cause policy advocate gigantic fund unaccountable millions happens every year without intervention exposure accountability ung said assembly oversight assembly rule 157 requires annual performance audit addition financial audit assembly leaders historically ignored rule perez160 formed legislative records task force late 2011160after sacramento bee los angeles times filed lawsuit demanding operating records move described fox guarding henhouse perez named assembly rules committee chairwoman nancy skinner dberkeley leader160assembly operations controlled perez committee task force nothing 2011 release doctored records assembly members office spending specifically targeting portantino early 2012 portantino demanded release of160all160assembly records public skinners committee denied request saying assemblys letters correspondences exempt transparency law april 2012 wrote last story task force still records available meetings160to date finding information task force difficult contacted skinners office status update task force two staff members spoke said couldnt locate information task force referred perezs office speakers committee transparency secret portantino told april 2012 minutes committeesecret dont know theyve ever even met members embracing transparency radical concept assembly rules committee killed160portantinos ab 1887 would required state controller audit spending legislature next two years160 thereafter independent firm would perform annual audits celebrate auditor audits bell ca portantino said agency budgets need slush fund ab 1887 also would required legislature return 146 million spent however without law perez gets decide money gets spent 2011 leaders assembly senate authorized 200000 lawyers keep information secret fight records according portantino one the160 standing rules assembly160calls annual performance audit assembly 2011 trent hager portantinos chief staff told assembly never actually complied rule hager ought know worked rules committee many years rule reads performance audit160 157160in addition annual financial audit required rule 156 committee rules shall contract audit administrative operations assembly administrative departments audited shall determined committee rules organization performing audit pursuant rule shall selected majority membership committee rules contract audit shall awarded competitive bidding procedure audits shall prepared manner form determined organization performing audit shall consistent generally accepted accounting principles findings recommendations reported auditing firm shall made available members public one reasons secrecy may worst kept secret capitol numbers capitol staffers payroll legislature actually work political campaigns something banned law ung explained slush fund money goes pet issues assembly leaders rules governing slush fund contained assembly operating budget vague ambiguous making easy abuse ung said highly questionable send money slush fund various state agencies without assembly vote thats assembly obtains surplus according 2011 signed court declarationby gus demas fiscal officer assembly rules committee details budget state website include slush fund expenditures reported daily news got160ahold160 state budget documents california commission status women 150000 california conservation corps 680000 california military department 800000 california state university system 400000 department education 8 million department parks recreation 15 million recipients secretary states office joint legislative budget committee assembly leaders spent 73 million slush fund since december 2009 according demas court declaration assembly leaders gave 55 million state agencies december 2008 august 2011160perez spent another 21 million december 2011 aug 31 2012 according state budget documents
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<p>Like many law enforcement agencies, the Chicago Police Department has an early intervention system that is supposed to flag officers at risk of serious misconduct and provide them with training and support to get on the right track.</p>
<p>But of 162 Chicago police officers with 10 or more misconduct complaints in the past four years, just one was enrolled in the department’s program as of October, according to a Chicago Reporter analysis of data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.</p>
<p>An officer is eligible for the program if he or she receives two sustained complaints or three excessive force complaints within 12 months, though they can also be recommended for the program based on a pattern of complaints. Less than 4 percent of all complaints filed against CPD officers are sustained.</p>
<p>Overall, there were just 11 officers enrolled in CPD’s two primary early intervention programs, out of more than 12,000 sworn officers in the department—the nation’s second-largest law enforcement agency.</p>
<p>“Those numbers defy belief,” said Samuel Walker, an emeritus professor at the University of Nebraska, and a leading national expert on police early intervention systems. “It says the system isn’t working and is designed not to work.”</p>
<p>It’s no wonder, experts said, that the system failed to effectively intervene before Officer Jason Van Dyke, who had <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-police-shooting-16-shots-04---met-20150425-story.html" type="external">19 citizen complaints</a> and two misconduct lawsuits against him, shot and killed 17-year-old Laquan McDonald in October 2014. Van Dyke was not in the program on Oct. 15 of this year, according to the records received by the Reporter, and it is not clear whether he was previously enrolled.</p>
<p>Past efforts at police reform in Chicago have included calls for improving early intervention. The same response is likely today as the city reels from several allegations of police abuse and corruption. Mayor Rahm Emanuel has mentioned an “early warning system” several times since the McDonald shooting video was released last month, and the U.S. Department of Justice has consistently recommended early intervention programs after its investigations into “patterns and practices” of police abuse, like the one now under way in Chicago.</p>
<p>Chicago’s early intervention system is likely to be in the sights of Justice Department’s investigators, because it lags far behind best practices, Walker said.</p>
<p>How the early intervention system works</p>
<p>One of the problems with CPD’s system, experts said, is that it can’t consider unfounded misconduct complaints or complaints that are more than five years old, a requirement of the <a href="" type="internal">police union contract</a>.</p>
<p>Nationally, only about 10 percent of police misconduct complaints are sustained, said Dennis Kenney, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York.</p>
<p>“If you are excluding 90 percent of complaints right off the top, then you have a flawed early warning system,” he said.</p>
<p>A high number of prior complaints, even those that are not sustained, is a strong predictor of future misconduct complaints, according to a <a href="http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-to-predict-which-chicago-cops-will-commit-misconduct/?" type="external">recent analysis</a> of Chicago police complaint data by the data-journalism website FiveThirtyEight.</p>
<p>None of the complaints against Van Dyke was sustained, and most of them were too old to make him eligible for the intervention programs.</p>
<p>Chicago’s two primary intervention systems also look at other indicators, such as excessive tardiness, misuse of medical leave or a low grade on an annual performance review.</p>
<p>But officers must hit certain arbitrary thresholds—for example, being late five or more times in 12 months—to even be considered for the intervention program. Even then, it is at the discretion of command staff members in the human resources department whether to enroll an officer in the program.</p>
<p>A third non-disciplinary intervention program deals with officers who have minor incidents of being rude or disrespectful toward civilians that don’t reach the threshold for a formal misconduct investigation. The interventions for that program are far too light to be taken seriously, Walker said.</p>
<p>“After the first incident, it’s a conversation with a supervisor,” he said. “And then it escalates very slowly.”</p>
<p>Only after the fourth incident in five years is an officer eligible for one of the more serious intervention programs.</p>
<p>As of October, there were 516 officers enrolled in this program, about 4 percent of all officers on the force.</p>
<p>Better data produce better outcomes</p>
<p>Experts say the first step to a successful early intervention program is an effective mechanism for collecting and analyzing the right data on officer behavior and flagging those who may need additional counseling or training.</p>
<p>“To have a truly robust [early intervention] system, you want to have as much information as possible,” said Ilana Rosenzweig, the former head of Chicago’s independent police oversight agency.</p>
<p>Unlike many others around the country, Chicago’s early intervention systems do not use computer programming to identify potentially problematic officers.</p>
<p>On that front, CPD was actually more advanced in the mid-1990s than it is now.</p>
<p>In 1994, the department purchased off-the-shelf software called <a href="http://www.calsci.com/Police.html" type="external">BrainMaker</a> for $850. It analyzed 200 officers who had been fired for disciplinary infractions to determine what behaviors or character traits they had in common. BrainMaker then used that information to create a predictive algorithm, which could be applied to the rest of the force to identify other officers who might need help.</p>
<p>At the time, there were 12,500 officers on the force, and the software identified 91 for intervention, a rate nearly eight times higher than today’s early intervention system.</p>
<p>The department was initially enthusiastic about the results, but <a href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1997-10-15/news/9710150457_1_police-brutality-police-department-matt-rodriguez" type="external">later said</a> the program was never implemented because of opposition by the Fraternal Order of Police, the union that represents Chicago’s rank-and-file police officers.</p>
<p>By 1997, the BrainMaker program was gone, and the data it had collected was deleted.</p>
<p>At the time, CPD’s deputy superintendent said the size of Chicago’s force makes it “pretty much impossible for all at-risk individuals to be identified [by supervisors].”</p>
<p>But that is exactly how CPD’s early intervention programs are set up today.</p>
<p>Data doesn’t replace supervision</p>
<p>Even with the best data, early intervention doesn’t work without supervisors who are willing and able to identify the underlying problem that causes the behavior and find the right intervention to address it, experts said.</p>
<p>“What really counts is the mindset of the people running the program,” Walker said. “Is there a tendency to excuse the officer’s behavior? Or is it to say, ‘I think there’s something wrong here, we need to look deeper?’”</p>
<p>Chicago’s small number of enrolled officers indicates that supervisors are using the program as restrictively as possible, rather than actively trying to intervene when an officer’s behavior seems awry, Walker said.</p>
<p>Precinct-level sergeants and commanders are in the best position to identify officers who may be experiencing personal problems that can affect their performance, he said.</p>
<p>But in Chicago, an officer has to be recommended for early intervention by a command staff member or one of the heads of the three police oversight bodies, and approved by the human resources division. Those individuals are far removed from an officer’s day-to-day behavior.</p>
<p>“An early warning system is not intended to replace supervision, it is intended to augment supervision,” said Kenney, the John Jay professor.</p>
<p>The combination of solid data and good supervision can help identify those officers who are not “bad apples,” but simply need a little something extra.</p>
<p>“The vast majority of officers, even those who get complaints, are trying to do the right thing,” Rosenzweig said. “The question is, are you giving them the tools, the training and the supervision that they need to do the right thing and to perform at the level the public expects?”</p>
<p>The resources for successful early intervention could be right in CPD’s backyard.</p>
<p>Last summer, students in a program at the University of Chicago’s <a href="http://dsapp.org/team/" type="external">Center for Data Science and Public Policy</a> worked with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg (N.C.) Police Department to improve its early intervention system. They developed a predictive model that was more effective at identifying officers who would go on to commit misconduct, and also officers who didn’t actually need intervention.</p>
<p>The long-term goal of the U Chicago project, part of President Obama’s <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/05/18/launching-police-data-initiative" type="external">Police Data Initiative</a>, is to create a scalable early intervention model that could be used by police departments across the country, said Rayid Ghani, who worked as chief data scientist for Obama’s campaign and now directs the center.</p>
<p>CPD is not among the 21 police departments that signed on to the president’s data initiative, and the department hasn’t approached the U Chicago team for help with its early intervention system.</p>
<p>“If they came to us,” Ghani said, “we’d definitely be interested in working with them.”</p>
| false | 3 |
like many law enforcement agencies chicago police department early intervention system supposed flag officers risk serious misconduct provide training support get right track 162 chicago police officers 10 misconduct complaints past four years one enrolled departments program october according chicago reporter analysis data obtained freedom information act request officer eligible program receives two sustained complaints three excessive force complaints within 12 months though also recommended program based pattern complaints less 4 percent complaints filed cpd officers sustained overall 11 officers enrolled cpds two primary early intervention programs 12000 sworn officers departmentthe nations secondlargest law enforcement agency numbers defy belief said samuel walker emeritus professor university nebraska leading national expert police early intervention systems says system isnt working designed work wonder experts said system failed effectively intervene officer jason van dyke 19 citizen complaints two misconduct lawsuits shot killed 17yearold laquan mcdonald october 2014 van dyke program oct 15 year according records received reporter clear whether previously enrolled past efforts police reform chicago included calls improving early intervention response likely today city reels several allegations police abuse corruption mayor rahm emanuel mentioned early warning system several times since mcdonald shooting video released last month us department justice consistently recommended early intervention programs investigations patterns practices police abuse like one way chicago chicagos early intervention system likely sights justice departments investigators lags far behind best practices walker said early intervention system works one problems cpds system experts said cant consider unfounded misconduct complaints complaints five years old requirement police union contract nationally 10 percent police misconduct complaints sustained said dennis kenney professor john jay college criminal justice new york excluding 90 percent complaints right top flawed early warning system said high number prior complaints even sustained strong predictor future misconduct complaints according recent analysis chicago police complaint data datajournalism website fivethirtyeight none complaints van dyke sustained old make eligible intervention programs chicagos two primary intervention systems also look indicators excessive tardiness misuse medical leave low grade annual performance review officers must hit certain arbitrary thresholdsfor example late five times 12 monthsto even considered intervention program even discretion command staff members human resources department whether enroll officer program third nondisciplinary intervention program deals officers minor incidents rude disrespectful toward civilians dont reach threshold formal misconduct investigation interventions program far light taken seriously walker said first incident conversation supervisor said escalates slowly fourth incident five years officer eligible one serious intervention programs october 516 officers enrolled program 4 percent officers force better data produce better outcomes experts say first step successful early intervention program effective mechanism collecting analyzing right data officer behavior flagging may need additional counseling training truly robust early intervention system want much information possible said ilana rosenzweig former head chicagos independent police oversight agency unlike many others around country chicagos early intervention systems use computer programming identify potentially problematic officers front cpd actually advanced mid1990s 1994 department purchased offtheshelf software called brainmaker 850 analyzed 200 officers fired disciplinary infractions determine behaviors character traits common brainmaker used information create predictive algorithm could applied rest force identify officers might need help time 12500 officers force software identified 91 intervention rate nearly eight times higher todays early intervention system department initially enthusiastic results later said program never implemented opposition fraternal order police union represents chicagos rankandfile police officers 1997 brainmaker program gone data collected deleted time cpds deputy superintendent said size chicagos force makes pretty much impossible atrisk individuals identified supervisors exactly cpds early intervention programs set today data doesnt replace supervision even best data early intervention doesnt work without supervisors willing able identify underlying problem causes behavior find right intervention address experts said really counts mindset people running program walker said tendency excuse officers behavior say think theres something wrong need look deeper chicagos small number enrolled officers indicates supervisors using program restrictively possible rather actively trying intervene officers behavior seems awry walker said precinctlevel sergeants commanders best position identify officers may experiencing personal problems affect performance said chicago officer recommended early intervention command staff member one heads three police oversight bodies approved human resources division individuals far removed officers daytoday behavior early warning system intended replace supervision intended augment supervision said kenney john jay professor combination solid data good supervision help identify officers bad apples simply need little something extra vast majority officers even get complaints trying right thing rosenzweig said question giving tools training supervision need right thing perform level public expects resources successful early intervention could right cpds backyard last summer students program university chicagos center data science public policy worked charlottemecklenburg nc police department improve early intervention system developed predictive model effective identifying officers would go commit misconduct also officers didnt actually need intervention longterm goal u chicago project part president obamas police data initiative create scalable early intervention model could used police departments across country said rayid ghani worked chief data scientist obamas campaign directs center cpd among 21 police departments signed presidents data initiative department hasnt approached u chicago team help early intervention system came us ghani said wed definitely interested working
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<p>CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett has talked more passionately about reducing suspensions and expulsions than almost any other subject. And for the first time ever this year, the district is publishing school-level statistics on discipline.</p>
<p>Activists hope that shedding light on what is happening with school discipline will help expose problem areas so they can be addressed. They also hope principals will consider implementing alternatives to discipline that puts students out of school, especially black boys, who are disproportionately targeted.</p>
<p>But even activists who heralded the district’s new transparency and apparent willingness to confront the issue remain worried because money for restorative practices, such as peace rooms, peer juries or counseling, remains scarce.&#160; Teachers, as a result, have few outlets to help them deal with problem behavior.</p>
<p>&#160;At Catalyst Chicago’s recent teacher roundtable, participants said they have gotten the message that schools should curb suspensions and expressed dissatisfaction with the practice. In order for students to improve academically, they need to be in class, they said.</p>
<p>However, the conversation quickly shifted from discipline to what emerged as the underlying concern: a lack of support for troubled students.</p>
<p>Participants in our latest roundtable were Monty Adams, a science teacher at Latino Youth High School, an alternative charter school; Jamie Cordes, a ninth- and 10th-grade English teacher at Noble Street Charter College Prep; Kris Himebaugh, an English teacher and Chicago Teachers Union delegate at Orr High, a turnaround school managed by the Academy for Urban School Leadership; Hen Kennedy, a seventh- and eighth-grade history and civics teacher at Carl Von Linne Elementary; and Amy Rosenwasser, a long-time special education teacher who now teaches fifth grade at Pritzker Elementary School.</p>
<p>Here is what they had to say:</p>
<p>Monty Adams: Being at an alternative school, I always talk to the kids. Most of them you would never imagine had been kicked out of a public school. They are the nicest kids. I get to talk to them, find out why they were kicked out of school, for fighting or something. I can’t imagine doing that. I’ve even had kids kicked out of CPS because of numerous medical absences. These are the children we get. I want to keep teaching at the alternative school. I love it. But I don’t understand the rationale sometimes.</p>
<p>Hen Kennedy: We have definitely gotten that message to not expect [misbehavior] to end in a suspension. It is something I agree with. I don’t think suspension is particularly effective. I have heard grumblings. But I think [the grumblers] also don’t think it is the most useful solution. The catch is, I am not sure we’re being taught effective alternatives to suspension. I think it is important to not suspend kids whenever possible. But it is also important to have counseling or whatever to replace that.</p>
<p>Adams: This year we have a principal and a dean of discipline. It is so nice to be able to teach and, if there is a student you’re having a problem with who won’t be cooperative, just to be able to pick up the phone. That doesn’t come back and reflect poorly on me. In fact, I can tell a student it’s kind of out of my hands. “Just go and calm down and talk to somebody else.” A lot of times they do.</p>
<p>They come in with all kinds of emotional problems. They need counseling. They need somebody to cool down with. You can’t do that simultaneously with teaching.</p>
<p>Kris Himebaugh: That is another [effect] of the budget cut. Our social worker and psychologist both got cut down to part-time and you’re talking about Orr High School. You’re talking about kids who are in and out of jail, who see their friends, siblings, parents die on the streets. My students get shot and killed. And so we have a half-time social worker and psychologist?</p>
<p>Kennedy:&#160; We’re lucky enough to have a phenomenal full-time counselor. I can’t even imagine how our school would function without it.</p>
<p>Amy Rosenwasser: &#160;We don’t have a full-time social worker. There is a definite push being made [for a social-emotional program]. We had two days of training at the end of the school year and two more next week on The Responsive Classroom, which is supposed to be a way to deal with problems in the classroom. The paraprofessionals and security [workers] did not have to report to school on those days and so they did not have to receive the training. It requires everyone to be on the same page [yet] we only had training with the teachers.</p>
<p>There also has to be something in place for those kids that don’t respond to that. Maybe there is something that is going to be in place, but I think a lot of schools don’t have that.</p>
<p>Adams: &#160;When I was in Waukegan, [administrators] would look at it almost in a punitive way, if you had trouble with one of your students in your classroom and had to call security or something like that. Having deans of discipline is a great solution. Being able to remove that responsibility (to discipline) from [the teacher] and let the dean deal with those issues–as a result, I had much better rapport with each student because I don’t have to get involved emotionally.</p>
<p>Jamie Cordes: In terms of suspensions, I feel very much like [Monty] was saying. We have a dean of discipline and a culture team, and if a kid is really disrupting the learning [environment], that’s who they go to. It won’t always lead to a suspension. We’ve got a social worker. We’ve got a culture team that is quasi-security, but building relationships with students as well. We are trying to pilot a peer mediation program for certain conflicts, like student conflicts, to get more student ownership in terms of the discipline policy. But there are some things that, according to our discipline code, trigger automatic suspensions, such as drug possession or fighting.&#160; I want to keep my kids in school. If the kid can come back to my class and still learn, then great. If a kid is on the way out and is suspended, I want them to get work in their hands so they can come back prepared. We’ve got demerits and suspensions to use when necessary. Ultimately, we want kids in class learning.</p>
| false | 3 |
ceo barbara byrdbennett talked passionately reducing suspensions expulsions almost subject first time ever year district publishing schoollevel statistics discipline activists hope shedding light happening school discipline help expose problem areas addressed also hope principals consider implementing alternatives discipline puts students school especially black boys disproportionately targeted even activists heralded districts new transparency apparent willingness confront issue remain worried money restorative practices peace rooms peer juries counseling remains scarce160 teachers result outlets help deal problem behavior 160at catalyst chicagos recent teacher roundtable participants said gotten message schools curb suspensions expressed dissatisfaction practice order students improve academically need class said however conversation quickly shifted discipline emerged underlying concern lack support troubled students participants latest roundtable monty adams science teacher latino youth high school alternative charter school jamie cordes ninth 10thgrade english teacher noble street charter college prep kris himebaugh english teacher chicago teachers union delegate orr high turnaround school managed academy urban school leadership hen kennedy seventh eighthgrade history civics teacher carl von linne elementary amy rosenwasser longtime special education teacher teaches fifth grade pritzker elementary school say monty adams alternative school always talk kids would never imagine kicked public school nicest kids get talk find kicked school fighting something cant imagine ive even kids kicked cps numerous medical absences children get want keep teaching alternative school love dont understand rationale sometimes hen kennedy definitely gotten message expect misbehavior end suspension something agree dont think suspension particularly effective heard grumblings think grumblers also dont think useful solution catch sure taught effective alternatives suspension think important suspend kids whenever possible also important counseling whatever replace adams year principal dean discipline nice able teach student youre problem wont cooperative able pick phone doesnt come back reflect poorly fact tell student kind hands go calm talk somebody else lot times come kinds emotional problems need counseling need somebody cool cant simultaneously teaching kris himebaugh another effect budget cut social worker psychologist got cut parttime youre talking orr high school youre talking kids jail see friends siblings parents die streets students get shot killed halftime social worker psychologist kennedy160 lucky enough phenomenal fulltime counselor cant even imagine school would function without amy rosenwasser 160we dont fulltime social worker definite push made socialemotional program two days training end school year two next week responsive classroom supposed way deal problems classroom paraprofessionals security workers report school days receive training requires everyone page yet training teachers also something place kids dont respond maybe something going place think lot schools dont adams 160when waukegan administrators would look almost punitive way trouble one students classroom call security something like deans discipline great solution able remove responsibility discipline teacher let dean deal issuesas result much better rapport student dont get involved emotionally jamie cordes terms suspensions feel much like monty saying dean discipline culture team kid really disrupting learning environment thats go wont always lead suspension weve got social worker weve got culture team quasisecurity building relationships students well trying pilot peer mediation program certain conflicts like student conflicts get student ownership terms discipline policy things according discipline code trigger automatic suspensions drug possession fighting160 want keep kids school kid come back class still learn great kid way suspended want get work hands come back prepared weve got demerits suspensions use necessary ultimately want kids class learning
| 545 |
<p>NORTH KOREA BOMB TEST RATCHETS NUCLEAR FEARS: LIVE BLOG</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 5:15 PM ET</p>
<p>Signing off</p>
<p>This live blog is now closed, but please <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/breaking-news" type="external">check here</a> for developments.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 5:00 PM ET</p>
<p>Chinese netizens amused by 'naughty' Kim</p>
<p>While the Chinese government has voiced its opposition to the North Korea nuclear test, the Chinese public viewed the proceedings with a decidedly lighter air.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/02/12/the_laughingstock_next_door_north_korea_china_satire" type="external">Foreign Policy magazine wrote</a>:</p>
<p>"He's so naughty!" chided one web user, while another suggested that the resulting earthquake came from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un eating too much and falling on his posterior.</p>
<p>It wasn't the first time Kim had been the butt of jokes in China. After North Korea's successful missile launch on Dec. 12, many expressed joy and pride on behalf of the North Korean masses. "The brigade members plowing the hills of Seipo County were so inspired by the successful launch of the second Earth observation satellite that they opened up thousands of hectares of wasteland in just a few days," one message from a popular satirist nicknamed Miss Choi in Pyongyang read, pretending to be oblivious to North Korea's failed rocket launch test in April. "Big Brother [China], please step up your effort, or we will surpass you!"</p>
<p>Not everyone was in on the joke. A journalist at China's independent-minded newspaper Southern Weekly said, "Isn't laughing at North Korea like the pot calling the kettle black?"</p>
<p>Read <a href="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/02/12/the_laughingstock_next_door_north_korea_china_satire" type="external">the whole story here</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 3:24 PM ET</p>
<p>The Kim dynasty in 2013</p>
<p>The Feb. 12, 2013 nuclear test dashed any remaining hopes for change under Kim Jong Un. What does that mean for people unlucky enough to be born in North Korea?</p>
<p>GlobalPost's in-depth series, <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/series/next-kim" type="external">"Next of Kim," takes a look</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 3:15 PM ET</p>
<p>Plutonium v. Uranium</p>
<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/02/12/why-its-so-hard-to-tell-if-north-korea-used-a-plutonium-or-much-scarier-uranium-bomb/?Post+generic=%3Ftid%3Dsm_twitter_washingtonpost" type="external">The Washington Post wrote</a> that the biggest question coming out of North Korea's nuclear test is whether the country used plutonium or uranium as its nuclear material. There are four reasons, said The Post, that the answer to that question matters:</p>
<p>1. North Korea would have two ways to build a bomb, which means a potentially larger arsenal.</p>
<p>2. The country has a natural supply of uranium and can enrich to bomb-making levels in secret; plutonium is limited and is much tougher to hide. So its weaponized uranium would be tougher to keep track of and easier to make in larger quantities.</p>
<p>3. Iran uses uranium in its nuclear program, so North Korea could share research and lessons from the nuclear test with Tehran.</p>
<p>4. Uranium is easier to ship abroad, meaning North Korea could more easily sell it.</p>
<p>Read more about the importance of answering that question <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/02/12/why-its-so-hard-to-tell-if-north-korea-used-a-plutonium-or-much-scarier-uranium-bomb/?Post+generic=%3Ftid%3Dsm_twitter_washingtonpost" type="external">here</a>.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://isis-online.org/isis-reports/detail/isis-statement-on-north-korean-nuclear-test/10" type="external">Institute for Science and International Security commented</a> on the other significant detail of this nuclear test: North Korea's claims about its miniaturization capability.</p>
<p>It should not come as a surprise to the international community that North Korea may now have the capability to explode a miniaturized nuclear device. ISIS (and key members of the U.S. intelligence community) have assessed for some time that North Korea likely has the capability to miniaturize a nuclear weapon for its 800 mile range Nodong missile. Although more information is needed to make a sound assessment, this test could, as North Korea has stated, demonstrate this capability.</p>
<p>Read the <a href="http://isis-online.org/isis-reports/detail/isis-statement-on-north-korean-nuclear-test/10" type="external">full report here</a>.</p>
<p>Check out more about nuclear sites in North Korea from the BBC:</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 2:55 PM ET</p>
<p>Obama talks to South Korean president</p>
<p>President Obama spoke to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to "consult and coordinate" their response to North Korea's nuclear test, <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/readout-presidents-call-republic-korea-president-lee-myung-bak" type="external">the White House said in a statement</a>.</p>
<p>Obama and Lee "condemned this highly provocative violation of North Korea’s international obligations," the statement said.</p>
<p>They agreed to work closely together, including at the United Nations Security Council, to seek a range of measures aimed at impeding North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and reducing the risk of proliferation. President Obama unequivocally reaffirmed that the United States remains steadfast in its defense commitments to the Republic of Korea, including the extended deterrence offered by the U.S. nuclear umbrella.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 2:40 PM ET</p>
<p>State Dept: North Korea told US a test was coming</p>
<p>North Korea warned the US of its upcoming nuclear test prior to Tuesday, but had not indicated when the test would take place, the US State Department said this afternoon.</p>
<p>"The DPRK did inform us at the State Department of their intention to conduct a nuclear test, without citing any specific timing," <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/12/us-korea-north-usa-advise-idUSBRE91B1AB20130212" type="external">spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said</a>.</p>
<p>Also on Tuesday, US Ambassador to the UN <a href="http://usun.state.gov/briefing/statements/204033.htm" type="external">Susan Rice told reporters</a>that the US is seeking "to augment the sanctions regime that is already quite strong."</p>
<p>In response, a reporter asked Rice: "With financial sanctions? Sanctions on the financial institutions? Anything more in significant action?"</p>
<p>She answered: "All of those categories are areas that we think are ripe for appropriate further action."</p>
<p>Read the full text of Rice's remarks <a href="http://usun.state.gov/briefing/statements/204033.htm" type="external">here</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 2:15 PM ET</p>
<p>China is 'strongly dissatisfied'</p>
<p>North Korea’s nuclear test may pose the greatest challenge to its cautious ally China, where many still see their impoverished Stalinist neighbor as a buffer against Western countries.</p>
<p>It’s the first major foreign policy test for Xi Jinping, the new head of the Communist Party in China, which had urged North Korea not to go ahead with its plans.</p>
<p>The initial reaction, posted on a Foreign Ministry website, was muted. It said the Chinese government expressed “staunch opposition” to the test and “strongly urges” North Korea to hold its promise to abandon its nuclear program.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/12/us-korea-north-idUSBRE91B04820130212" type="external">Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said</a> China was "strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposed" to the test and urged North Korea to "stop any rhetoric or acts that could worsen situations and return to the right course of dialogue and consultation as soon as possible".</p>
<p>Yang later summoned North Korean ambassador Ji Jae Ryong to state China’s opposition to the test.</p>
<p>China observers are closely watching Xi’s response for early signs of his foreign policy. He’s said he wants Beijing and Washington to develop a “new type of relationship between two great powers.”</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 1:35 PM ET</p>
<p>Israel condemns nuclear test, Iran calls for nuclear weapons-free world</p>
<p>GlobalPost's senior correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky reported from Jerusalem:</p>
<p>Iran said it “disapproves” of North Korea's nuclear test and called for a world without nuclear weapons.</p>
<p>Locked in its own bitter standoff with Western countries over suspicions it’s developing a secret nuclear weapons program, Tehran said all weapons of mass destruction and nuclear arms "should be destroyed."</p>
<p>"We need to come to the point where no country has any nuclear weapons," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters.</p>
<p>Iran strenuously denies accusations it’s developing nuclear weapons, saying it is interested only in civil nuclear energy. “All countries should have the right to make use of nuclear activities for peaceful purposes," Mehmanparast said.</p>
<p>Tehran was among a small handful of countries that congratulated North Korea on its successful launch of a satellite into earth orbit last December, but denied helping prepare the launch.</p>
<p>A 2011 UN sanctions report said Tehran and Pyongyang were suspected of sharing ballistic missile technology.</p>
<p>In Israel, the Foreign Ministry said it strongly condemned North Korea’s nuclear test, saying in a statement that it “joins the international community in expressing the grave danger that this act poses to regional stability and international peace and security.”</p>
<p>“These actions by the DPRK, in violation of its international obligations, must be met with a swift response by the international community,” the statement continued.</p>
<p>Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor also questioned Iran’s call to ban nuclear arms. “Iran's credibility in nuclear issues can only and exclusively be vouched for by the International Atomic Energy Agency,” he said in an interview. “Since that is not precisely the case, I refer any Iranian with ideas about nuclear disarmament to the IAEA."</p>
<p>He also said <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/13/world/middleeast/iran-converts-enriched-uranium-to-reactor-fuel-reports-say.html" type="external">a New York Times story on Tuesday</a> that reported Iran had converted some of its stockpiled enriched uranium into nuclear fuel may be old news. He said Defense Minister Ehud Barak had said two months ago that Iran had repurposed some of its enriched uranium for research uses, saying it had "taken them a bit further away from the red line" because it’s more difficult to refine nuclear fuel to weapons-grade purity.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 1:05 PM ET</p>
<p>Major embarrassment for Obama?</p>
<p>Whether it was intentional or not, North Korea's test happened on the eve of US President Obama's State of the Union speech. National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/02/north-koreas-nuke-test-pokes-obama-in-the-eye-on-the-eve-of-the-sotu/273082/" type="external">told National Journal</a> that North Korea's test would not alter Obama's nonproliferation message, but National Journal noted that it might be seen as a major embarrassment for Obama.</p>
<p>According to his advisers, Obama was set to make nonproliferation a key goal in his second term.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/11/us/politics/obama-to-renew-drive-for-cuts-in-nuclear-arms.html?_r=0" type="external">The New York Times wrote</a> on Monday that Obama was expected to renew a commitment to disarmament which he made in a landmark speech in Prague in April 2009. He was expected to announce a draw down of the number of deployed strategic warheads, which currently numbers 1,700.</p>
<p>Obama, administration officials say, is unlikely to discuss specific numbers in the address, but White House officials are looking at a cut that would take the arsenal of deployed weapons to just above 1,000. Currently there are about 1,700, and the new strategic arms reduction treaty with Russia that passed the Senate at the end of 2009 calls for a limit of roughly 1,550 by 2018.</p>
<p>National Journal noted that in the immediate aftermath of the test, White House officials have sought to play down the Times article, saying it exaggerated the Obama administration's willingness to go forward with the cuts.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 12:30 PM ET</p>
<p>What does North Korea's nuclear test reveal?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130212/what-does-north-koreas-nuclear-test-reveal" type="external">Agence France-Presse</a> — North Korea's nuclear test opens a rare, limited window for expert evaluation of its atomic weapons program, with an added urgency lent by Pyongyang's claim to have detonated a "miniaturized" device.</p>
<p>Seismic monitors and "sniffer" planes capable of collecting radioactive evidence of Tuesday's test will provide the forensic material for analysts to try to determine the exact yield and nature of the underground explosion.</p>
<p>Pyongyang said the "high-level" test involved a "miniaturized and lighter atomic bomb" with a much greater yield than the plutonium devices it detonated in 2006 and 2009. Miniaturization is needed to fit a warhead on a missile.</p>
<p>South Korea's defense ministry said seismic data suggested the explosive yield was significantly higher than the two previous tests at six to seven kilotons.</p>
<p>One key question analysts will be looking to answer was whether the North has switched from plutonium to a new and self-sustaining nuclear weaponization program using uranium.</p>
<p>Judging the type of fissile material requires the detection and analysis of xenon gases produced in the atomic explosion.</p>
<p>"These aren't necessarily easy to find and, if the test was well contained, may not be found at all," said Paul Carroll, program director at the Ploughshares Fund, a global security foundation based in California.</p>
<p>"The miniaturization claim is provocative because that's exactly the technology we don't want them to have," Carroll said, adding that it was a very difficult claim to confirm or refute.</p>
<p>The same six-seven kiloton yield could equally be achieved with a small, efficient device or a very large, inefficient one, with seismic data unable to differentiate between the two, he said.</p>
<p>Proof that the North had mastered warhead miniaturization would be an alarming game changer -- especially given its successful rocket launch in December which marked a major step forward in ballistic prowess.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 12:15 PM ET</p>
<p>UN vows action on 'grave violation'</p>
<p>After their meeting this morning, the <a href="http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/2013/02/security-council-condemns-nuclear-test-by-north-korea/" type="external">United Nations Security Council vowed to respond</a> to North Korea's nuclear test.</p>
<p>&#160;"The members of the Security Council strongly condemned this test, which is a grave violation of Security Council resolution 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009) and 2087 (2013), and therefore there continues to exist a clear threat to international peace and security."</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/english/2013/02/security-council-condemns-nuclear-test-by-north-korea/" type="external">body said it will begin working immediately</a>on a resolution containing "appropriate measures."</p>
<p>A spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon <a href="http://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=6596" type="external">said in a statement</a>:</p>
<p>"The Secretary-General condemns the underground nuclear weapon test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) today. It is a clear and grave violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions.</p>
<p>"The Secretary-General is gravely concerned about the negative impact of this deeply destabilizing act on regional stability as well as the global efforts for nuclear non-proliferation."</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 11:30 AM ET</p>
<p>NATO joins chorus of condemnation</p>
<p>BRUSSELS —&#160;NATO has condemned North Korea’s nuclear test "in the strongest terms" and called on Pyongyang to immediately bring such "provocative actions" to an end.</p>
<p>"This irresponsible act, along with the December missile launch, poses a grave threat to international and regional peace, security and stability," the alliance said in a statement.</p>
<p>Europe was united in its condemnation, holding out the threat of more sanctions through the UN.</p>
<p>President Francois Hollande said France would work to secure "firm action" from the UN Security Council in response. "North Korea must unconditionally abstain from any act that risks heightening tension in the Korean peninsula and impact on peace and international security," he said in a statement.</p>
<p>"The international community must respond with a clear stance to this fresh provocation," Germany's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "Further sanctions against the regime in Pyongyang must be considered."</p>
<p>Poland's Foreign Minister Radislaw Sikorski was quoted as saying the North Korea test underscored the importance of developing anti-missile technology. He also suggested China should increase pressure on the DPRK regime.</p>
<p>"Without [China's] support, without the border open to trade and the movement of people, the regime [in North Korea] might not survive more than a few months,” Sikorski told Polish radio.</p>
<p>The European Union issued its own statement saying it would "work with key partners and the wider international community to build a firm and unified response aiming at demonstrating to the DPRK that there are consequences for its continued violations of UNSC Resolutions.”&#160;—&#160;Paul Ames, GlobalPost</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 11:15 AM ET</p>
<p>Japan says North Korean nuclear test is 'totally unacceptable'</p>
<p>TOKYO —&#160;Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called an emergency security meeting to discuss Japan’s response to North Korea’s nuclear test on Monday after the United States warned it was imminent.</p>
<p>Having already implemented a raft of bilateral and UN-led sanctions following previous North Korean rocket launches and nuclear tests, however, Tokyo’s options for further action seem fairly limited.</p>
<p>Abe joined other world leaders condemning the test. "The nuclear test by North Korea is totally unacceptable, as it constitutes a grave threat to Japan's security, represents a grave challenge to the international disarmament and non-proliferation regime centered on the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, and seriously undermines the peace and security of Northeast Asia,” he said.</p>
<p>"I have ordered that we consider every possible way to address this issue, including our own sanctions, while co-operating with other countries,” he added.</p>
<p>Later on Tuesday, he said in a statement that Japan would tighten immigration controls for officials from a pro-Pyongyang association of Korean residents in Japan.</p>
<p>The top government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, said Tokyo was also considering additional financial measures against North Korea.</p>
<p>Japan introduced a range of sanctions against the North after its nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, including a ban on all exports and imports, and on North Korean ships entering Japanese ports.</p>
<p>Tokyo considers itself among the countries most at risk from North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear weapons program.</p>
<p>A US ally in the region, Japan is still the target of bitter resentment among many Koreans on both sides of the demilitarized zone dividing North and South over its colonial rule of the Korean peninsula between 1910 and 1945.</p>
<p>In a meeting with Washington’s ambassador to Tokyo, John Roos, Abe vowed to work with the United States in pushing a new round of sanctions through the UN Security Council.</p>
<p>The test “threatens … peace and security not only for Japan but for the United States,” the Kyodo news agency reported Roos as saying.</p>
<p>A hawk who has represented the families of <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/japan/090316/abduction-espionage-alleged-murder-and-intrigue-the-korean-peninsula?page=full" type="external">Japanese citizens abducted by North Korean agents during the Cold War</a>, Abe was elected prime minister in December, and&#160;vowed to take a tough stance against North Korea.</p>
<p>He’s expected to discuss the North’s nuclear program and Northeast Asian security during talks with president Obama in Washington next week. —&#160;Justin McCurry, GlobalPost</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 10:40 AM ET</p>
<p>North Korea isn't sorry, and has the US in its sights</p>
<p>"This is the wrong step in the wrong direction," Tibor Toth, the executive secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, <a href="http://www.ntn24.com/news/node/20999" type="external">told Reuters</a>. "This is a challenge to this norm observed by the international community of not carrying out nuclear weapons explosions."</p>
<p>Unverified estimates indicate that Tuesday's test may have been twice the size of a test by the Hermit Kingdom in 2009.</p>
<p>But Pyongyang is defiant, threatening " <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57568865/north-korea-nuke-test-just-a-first-response-aimed-at-u.s/" type="external">second and third measures of greater intensity</a>" if the US doesn't soften what the North takes to be an aggressive stance.</p>
<p><a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/interactive/ap-interactive-north-korea" type="external">Check out the Associated Press's comprehensive interactive graphics</a> about North Korea's nuclear history and capability.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 9:50 AM ET</p>
<p>US estimates size of North Korea's tested bomb at 'several kilotons'</p>
<p><a href="http://web1.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130212/urgent-us-intel-probable-nkorea-test-several-kilotons" type="external">Agence France-Presse</a> —&#160;US intelligence agencies believe North Korea "probably" conducted an underground nuclear test with a yield of several kilotons, the office of the Director of National Intelligence said Tuesday.</p>
<p>"The explosion yield was approximately several kilotons. Analysis of the event continues," the office said in a statement, confirming the blast had taken place in the area of North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site.</p>
<p>GlobalPost's Geoffrey Cain earlier reported from Seoul that the South Korean Defense Ministry estimated the detonated bomb to have measured six to eight kilotons.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 9:35 AM ET</p>
<p>What does nuclear bomb testing do to the planet?</p>
<p>Even bombs tested underground, as North Korea's was, can have serious impact on the environment.</p>
<p>National Geographic wrote last year:</p>
<p>"If tunnels are dug deeply and securely, radiation from a blast can be completely contained, said intelligence analyst John Pike, director of GlobalSecurity.org, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. If not, explosions can burst through the surface and release contaminants. Or the vaporization of rock in the blast can create subsurface cavities that in turn create surface craters.</p>
<p>"In some cases radiation can seep out slowly during the weeks after a test."</p>
<p>Read <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/04/120411-north-korea-rocket-test-nuclear-weapon-world-science/" type="external">more of their report here</a>.</p>
<p>Watch declassified video of US nuclear tests from <a href="http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Hardtack1.html" type="external">1958's "Operation Hardtack"</a>:</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 9:16 AM ET</p>
<p>Koreas may be the latest joiners to drone warfare</p>
<p>News of North Korea's third <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/130212/north-korea-appears-carry-out-third-nuclear-test" type="external">nuclear weapons test</a>is coupled Tuesday with a much subtler arms escalation — the reported beginnings of drone development in North and South Korea.</p>
<p>Last week <a href="http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/northkorea/2012/02/05/17/0401000000AEN20120205000900315F.HTML" type="external">news</a>&#160;of a possible North Korean drone program broke, and&#160; <a href="http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2013/02/11/55/0301000000AEN20130211003500315F.HTML" type="external">Yonhap news agency reported</a> Monday the South Korean military wants to develop drone helicopters.</p>
<p>"The military is considering using unmanned combat helicopters to destroy North Korea's military bases used for infiltration, including artillery bases and a naval base for air-cushioned vessels," an&#160; <a href="http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2013/02/11/55/0301000000AEN20130211003500315F.HTML" type="external">unnamed military source told Yonhap</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/130212/north-and-south-korea-indicate-drone-development" type="external">Read the rest of this report from GlobalPost's news desk</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 9:03 AM ET</p>
<p>UN Security Council meeting on North Korea's test</p>
<p>The UN Security Council was due to begin an emergency meeting at 9 a.m. to discuss its response to North Korea's nuclear test. As we wait for details to emerge from their session, here are some reports from the morning to help catch you up:</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>[ <a href="//storify.com/globalpost/north-korea-conducts-third-nuclear-test" type="external">View the story "North Korea conducts third nuclear test " on Storify</a>]</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 6:18 AM ET</p>
<p>Even China is angry</p>
<p>SEOUL, South Korea — After North Korea's test, South Korean president Lee Myung-bak immediately convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council. The United Nations Security Council is set to discuss the matter at a 9 a.m. meeting in New York on Tuesday.</p>
<p>International condemnation of the test poured in — <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-china-condemns-north-korea-nuclear-20130212,0,566507.story" type="external">even from China</a>, North Korea's most powerful friend. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/13/world/asia/north-korea-nuclear-test.html?hp&amp;_r=0" type="external">US President Barack Obama called for</a>"swift and credible action by the international community," while China urged "all parties to respond calmly," <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-china-condemns-north-korea-nuclear-20130212,0,566507.story" type="external">according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry</a>.</p>
<p>South Korea immediately condemned the test as a violation of UN resolutions, and as an "unacceptable threat," <a href="http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2013/02/12/4/0301000000AEN20130212010800315F.HTML" type="external">wrote</a> the Yonhap News Agency.</p>
<p>On the ground, however, most Koreans carried on with their day without giving much thought to the blast, GlobalPost's Geoffrey Cain reported.&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/130212/north-korea-appears-carry-out-third-nuclear-test" type="external">Read more from this report</a>.</p>
<p>Other reactions from around the world:</p>
<p>• <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/12/us-japan-economy-abe-idUSBRE91B0AJ20130212" type="external">Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe</a> called the test a "grave threat" to Japan's safety. The government convened a national security meeting and is contemplating imposing unilateral sanctions on North Korea, according to local media.</p>
<p>• <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130212/nato-condemns-irresponsible-nkorea-nuclear-test" type="external">NATO</a> said the test was an "irresponsible act" and a "grave threat to international and regional peace, security and stability."</p>
<p>• <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21421841" type="external">Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov</a> urged North Korea to "abandon its nuclear arms program" and resume talks with other countries.</p>
<p>• <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-condemns-reports-of-north-korean-nuclear-tests" type="external">William Hague, Britain's foreign secretary</a>, called for a "robust response" from the UN Security Council.</p>
<p>• <a href="http://www.bfmtv.com/politique/essai-nucleaire-nord-coreen-hollande-condamne-lessai-nucleaire-446402.html" type="external">French President François Hollande</a> said he would back "firm action" by the UN.</p>
<p>• <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130212/iran-calls-end-all-nuclear-arms-after-n-korea-test" type="external">Iran's Foreign Ministry</a> said all nuclear weapons should be destroyed, but commented that "all countries should have the right to make use of nuclear activities for peaceful purposes."</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/130212/north-korea-nuclear-test-barack-obama-national-security" type="external">Read more about the world</a> <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/130212/north-korea-nuclear-test-barack-obama-national-security" type="external">'s</a> <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/130212/north-korea-nuclear-test-barack-obama-national-security" type="external">&#160;reaction here</a>.</p>
<p>UPDATE: 2/12/13 1:33 AM ET</p>
<p>North Korea detonates underground bomb in third nuclear test, threatens further action</p>
<p>North Korea has admitted carrying out a third nuclear test, hours after US seismologists detected a 4.9-magnitude earthquake in the hermit kingdom.</p>
<p>The heightened seismic activity came at 11:57 a.m. near the Chinese border. The South Korean Defense Ministry estimates the detonated bomb to have measured six to eight kilotons.</p>
<p>According to monitors at the <a href="http://newsroom.ctbto.org/" type="external">Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization</a> in Vienna, the resulting blast was twice as powerful as North Korea's last nuclear test in 2009.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1253756/1/.html" type="external">North Korean Foreign Ministry said</a> the latest test was "only the first action," and threatened more could follow.</p>
<p>"If the US further complicates the situation with continued hostility, we will be left with no choice but to take even stronger second or third rounds of action," the ministry announced in a statement.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/130212/north-korea-appears-carry-out-third-nuclear-test" type="external">Read more from Geoffrey Cain in Seoul and GlobalPost's news desk.</a></p>
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north korea bomb test ratchets nuclear fears live blog update 21213 515 pm et signing live blog closed please check developments update 21213 500 pm et chinese netizens amused naughty kim chinese government voiced opposition north korea nuclear test chinese public viewed proceedings decidedly lighter air foreign policy magazine wrote hes naughty chided one web user another suggested resulting earthquake came north korean leader kim jong un eating much falling posterior wasnt first time kim butt jokes china north koreas successful missile launch dec 12 many expressed joy pride behalf north korean masses brigade members plowing hills seipo county inspired successful launch second earth observation satellite opened thousands hectares wasteland days one message popular satirist nicknamed miss choi pyongyang read pretending oblivious north koreas failed rocket launch test april big brother china please step effort surpass everyone joke journalist chinas independentminded newspaper southern weekly said isnt laughing north korea like pot calling kettle black read whole story update 21213 324 pm et kim dynasty 2013 feb 12 2013 nuclear test dashed remaining hopes change kim jong un mean people unlucky enough born north korea globalposts indepth series next kim takes look update 21213 315 pm et plutonium v uranium washington post wrote biggest question coming north koreas nuclear test whether country used plutonium uranium nuclear material four reasons said post answer question matters 1 north korea would two ways build bomb means potentially larger arsenal 2 country natural supply uranium enrich bombmaking levels secret plutonium limited much tougher hide weaponized uranium would tougher keep track easier make larger quantities 3 iran uses uranium nuclear program north korea could share research lessons nuclear test tehran 4 uranium easier ship abroad meaning north korea could easily sell read importance answering question institute science international security commented significant detail nuclear test north koreas claims miniaturization capability come surprise international community north korea may capability explode miniaturized nuclear device isis key members us intelligence community assessed time north korea likely capability miniaturize nuclear weapon 800 mile range nodong missile although information needed make sound assessment test could north korea stated demonstrate capability read full report check nuclear sites north korea bbc update 21213 255 pm et obama talks south korean president president obama spoke south korean president lee myungbak consult coordinate response north koreas nuclear test white house said statement obama lee condemned highly provocative violation north koreas international obligations statement said agreed work closely together including united nations security council seek range measures aimed impeding north koreas nuclear ballistic missile programs reducing risk proliferation president obama unequivocally reaffirmed united states remains steadfast defense commitments republic korea including extended deterrence offered us nuclear umbrella update 21213 240 pm et state dept north korea told us test coming north korea warned us upcoming nuclear test prior tuesday indicated test would take place us state department said afternoon dprk inform us state department intention conduct nuclear test without citing specific timing spokeswoman victoria nuland said also tuesday us ambassador un susan rice told reportersthat us seeking augment sanctions regime already quite strong response reporter asked rice financial sanctions sanctions financial institutions anything significant action answered categories areas think ripe appropriate action read full text rices remarks update 21213 215 pm et china strongly dissatisfied north koreas nuclear test may pose greatest challenge cautious ally china many still see impoverished stalinist neighbor buffer western countries first major foreign policy test xi jinping new head communist party china urged north korea go ahead plans initial reaction posted foreign ministry website muted said chinese government expressed staunch opposition test strongly urges north korea hold promise abandon nuclear program foreign minister yang jiechi said china strongly dissatisfied resolutely opposed test urged north korea stop rhetoric acts could worsen situations return right course dialogue consultation soon possible yang later summoned north korean ambassador ji jae ryong state chinas opposition test china observers closely watching xis response early signs foreign policy hes said wants beijing washington develop new type relationship two great powers update 21213 135 pm et israel condemns nuclear test iran calls nuclear weaponsfree world globalposts senior correspondent noga tarnopolsky reported jerusalem iran said disapproves north koreas nuclear test called world without nuclear weapons locked bitter standoff western countries suspicions developing secret nuclear weapons program tehran said weapons mass destruction nuclear arms destroyed need come point country nuclear weapons foreign ministry spokesman ramin mehmanparast told reporters iran strenuously denies accusations developing nuclear weapons saying interested civil nuclear energy countries right make use nuclear activities peaceful purposes mehmanparast said tehran among small handful countries congratulated north korea successful launch satellite earth orbit last december denied helping prepare launch 2011 un sanctions report said tehran pyongyang suspected sharing ballistic missile technology israel foreign ministry said strongly condemned north koreas nuclear test saying statement joins international community expressing grave danger act poses regional stability international peace security actions dprk violation international obligations must met swift response international community statement continued foreign ministry spokesman yigal palmor also questioned irans call ban nuclear arms irans credibility nuclear issues exclusively vouched international atomic energy agency said interview since precisely case refer iranian ideas nuclear disarmament iaea also said new york times story tuesday reported iran converted stockpiled enriched uranium nuclear fuel may old news said defense minister ehud barak said two months ago iran repurposed enriched uranium research uses saying taken bit away red line difficult refine nuclear fuel weaponsgrade purity update 21213 105 pm et major embarrassment obama whether intentional north koreas test happened eve us president obamas state union speech national security council spokesman tommy vietor told national journal north koreas test would alter obamas nonproliferation message national journal noted might seen major embarrassment obama according advisers obama set make nonproliferation key goal second term new york times wrote monday obama expected renew commitment disarmament made landmark speech prague april 2009 expected announce draw number deployed strategic warheads currently numbers 1700 obama administration officials say unlikely discuss specific numbers address white house officials looking cut would take arsenal deployed weapons 1000 currently 1700 new strategic arms reduction treaty russia passed senate end 2009 calls limit roughly 1550 2018 national journal noted immediate aftermath test white house officials sought play times article saying exaggerated obama administrations willingness go forward cuts update 21213 1230 pm et north koreas nuclear test reveal agence francepresse north koreas nuclear test opens rare limited window expert evaluation atomic weapons program added urgency lent pyongyangs claim detonated miniaturized device seismic monitors sniffer planes capable collecting radioactive evidence tuesdays test provide forensic material analysts try determine exact yield nature underground explosion pyongyang said highlevel test involved miniaturized lighter atomic bomb much greater yield plutonium devices detonated 2006 2009 miniaturization needed fit warhead missile south koreas defense ministry said seismic data suggested explosive yield significantly higher two previous tests six seven kilotons one key question analysts looking answer whether north switched plutonium new selfsustaining nuclear weaponization program using uranium judging type fissile material requires detection analysis xenon gases produced atomic explosion arent necessarily easy find test well contained may found said paul carroll program director ploughshares fund global security foundation based california miniaturization claim provocative thats exactly technology dont want carroll said adding difficult claim confirm refute sixseven kiloton yield could equally achieved small efficient device large inefficient one seismic data unable differentiate two said proof north mastered warhead miniaturization would alarming game changer especially given successful rocket launch december marked major step forward ballistic prowess update 21213 1215 pm et un vows action grave violation meeting morning united nations security council vowed respond north koreas nuclear test 160the members security council strongly condemned test grave violation security council resolution 1718 2006 1874 2009 2087 2013 therefore continues exist clear threat international peace security body said begin working immediatelyon resolution containing appropriate measures spokesman un secretary general ban kimoon said statement secretarygeneral condemns underground nuclear weapon test conducted democratic peoples republic korea dprk today clear grave violation relevant security council resolutions secretarygeneral gravely concerned negative impact deeply destabilizing act regional stability well global efforts nuclear nonproliferation update 21213 1130 et nato joins chorus condemnation brussels 160nato condemned north koreas nuclear test strongest terms called pyongyang immediately bring provocative actions end irresponsible act along december missile launch poses grave threat international regional peace security stability alliance said statement europe united condemnation holding threat sanctions un president francois hollande said france would work secure firm action un security council response north korea must unconditionally abstain act risks heightening tension korean peninsula impact peace international security said statement international community must respond clear stance fresh provocation germanys foreign ministry said statement sanctions regime pyongyang must considered polands foreign minister radislaw sikorski quoted saying north korea test underscored importance developing antimissile technology also suggested china increase pressure dprk regime without chinas support without border open trade movement people regime north korea might survive months sikorski told polish radio european union issued statement saying would work key partners wider international community build firm unified response aiming demonstrating dprk consequences continued violations unsc resolutions160160paul ames globalpost update 21213 1115 et japan says north korean nuclear test totally unacceptable tokyo 160prime minister shinzo abe called emergency security meeting discuss japans response north koreas nuclear test monday united states warned imminent already implemented raft bilateral unled sanctions following previous north korean rocket launches nuclear tests however tokyos options action seem fairly limited abe joined world leaders condemning test nuclear test north korea totally unacceptable constitutes grave threat japans security represents grave challenge international disarmament nonproliferation regime centered nuclear nonproliferation treaty seriously undermines peace security northeast asia said ordered consider every possible way address issue including sanctions cooperating countries added later tuesday said statement japan would tighten immigration controls officials propyongyang association korean residents japan top government spokesman yoshihide suga said tokyo also considering additional financial measures north korea japan introduced range sanctions north nuclear tests 2006 2009 including ban exports imports north korean ships entering japanese ports tokyo considers among countries risk north koreas ballistic missile nuclear weapons program us ally region japan still target bitter resentment among many koreans sides demilitarized zone dividing north south colonial rule korean peninsula 1910 1945 meeting washingtons ambassador tokyo john roos abe vowed work united states pushing new round sanctions un security council test threatens peace security japan united states kyodo news agency reported roos saying hawk represented families japanese citizens abducted north korean agents cold war abe elected prime minister december and160vowed take tough stance north korea hes expected discuss norths nuclear program northeast asian security talks president obama washington next week 160justin mccurry globalpost update 21213 1040 et north korea isnt sorry us sights wrong step wrong direction tibor toth executive secretary comprehensive nucleartestban treaty organization told reuters challenge norm observed international community carrying nuclear weapons explosions unverified estimates indicate tuesdays test may twice size test hermit kingdom 2009 pyongyang defiant threatening second third measures greater intensity us doesnt soften north takes aggressive stance check associated presss comprehensive interactive graphics north koreas nuclear history capability update 21213 950 et us estimates size north koreas tested bomb several kilotons agence francepresse 160us intelligence agencies believe north korea probably conducted underground nuclear test yield several kilotons office director national intelligence said tuesday explosion yield approximately several kilotons analysis event continues office said statement confirming blast taken place area north koreas punggyeri nuclear test site globalposts geoffrey cain earlier reported seoul south korean defense ministry estimated detonated bomb measured six eight kilotons update 21213 935 et nuclear bomb testing planet even bombs tested underground north koreas serious impact environment national geographic wrote last year tunnels dug deeply securely radiation blast completely contained said intelligence analyst john pike director globalsecurityorg washington dcbased think tank explosions burst surface release contaminants vaporization rock blast create subsurface cavities turn create surface craters cases radiation seep slowly weeks test read report watch declassified video us nuclear tests 1958s operation hardtack update 21213 916 et koreas may latest joiners drone warfare news north koreas third nuclear weapons testis coupled tuesday much subtler arms escalation reported beginnings drone development north south korea last week news160of possible north korean drone program broke and160 yonhap news agency reported monday south korean military wants develop drone helicopters military considering using unmanned combat helicopters destroy north koreas military bases used infiltration including artillery bases naval base aircushioned vessels an160 unnamed military source told yonhap read rest report globalposts news desk update 21213 903 et un security council meeting north koreas test un security council due begin emergency meeting 9 discuss response north koreas nuclear test wait details emerge session reports morning help catch view story north korea conducts third nuclear test storify update 21213 618 et even china angry seoul south korea north koreas test south korean president lee myungbak immediately convened emergency meeting national security council united nations security council set discuss matter 9 meeting new york tuesday international condemnation test poured even china north koreas powerful friend us president barack obama called forswift credible action international community china urged parties respond calmly according statement foreign ministry south korea immediately condemned test violation un resolutions unacceptable threat wrote yonhap news agency ground however koreans carried day without giving much thought blast globalposts geoffrey cain reported160 read report reactions around world japanese prime minister shinzo abe called test grave threat japans safety government convened national security meeting contemplating imposing unilateral sanctions north korea according local media nato said test irresponsible act grave threat international regional peace security stability russias foreign minister sergei lavrov urged north korea abandon nuclear arms program resume talks countries william hague britains foreign secretary called robust response un security council french president françois hollande said would back firm action un irans foreign ministry said nuclear weapons destroyed commented countries right make use nuclear activities peaceful purposes read world 160reaction update 21213 133 et north korea detonates underground bomb third nuclear test threatens action north korea admitted carrying third nuclear test hours us seismologists detected 49magnitude earthquake hermit kingdom heightened seismic activity came 1157 near chinese border south korean defense ministry estimates detonated bomb measured six eight kilotons according monitors comprehensive nucleartestban treaty organization vienna resulting blast twice powerful north koreas last nuclear test 2009 north korean foreign ministry said latest test first action threatened could follow us complicates situation continued hostility left choice take even stronger second third rounds action ministry announced statement read geoffrey cain seoul globalposts news desk 160 160 160 reactiondiv_gig_containerparent displaynone color bordercolorbbbbbb borderstylesolid borderwidth1px backgroundcolorf8f8f8 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<p>July 10, 2013</p>
<p>By Katy Grimes</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Sacramento’s City Council has historically been a revolving door into state politics.</p>
<p>Do the names Phil Isenberg, Bob Matsui, Debra Ortiz, Lloyd Connelly, Darrell Steinberg, and Dave Jones, ring a bell? Each of these politicians started on the Sacramento City Council and then ran for state Assembly, Senate, or Congress in Matsui’s case. Jones is now the State Insurance Commissioner after serving in the Assembly.</p>
<p>The only good news is they leave Sacramento in pursuit of higher office. But now, Sacramento may get one of them back.</p>
<p>Senate Pres. pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, has not only floated the idea of running for Sacramento District Attorney, he is now considering Mayor. I’ve heard the rumor but preferred denial to acknowledgment. Until now.</p>
<p>Steinberg has an extraordinary&#160;record to run on. “He has done more to harm Sacramento and its&#160;residents during&#160;his tenure as Senate Pro Tem than perhaps any legislator in history,” a politicly astute friend told me yesterday. “He’s in the pockets of the unions, actively hostile towards democratic rights and open government, and a doctrinaire hard-core&#160;left-winger.&#160; He would be an&#160;utter&#160;catastrophe for Sacramento.”</p>
<p>I couldn’t have said it better myself.</p>
<p>“Why can’t he just go away and get a real job in the private sector?” another friend asked.</p>
<p>In <a href="" type="internal">Steinberg pondering run for Sacramento DA</a>, I wrote:</p>
<p>Steinberg, 53, has worked as an Employee Rights Attorney for the&#160; <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=California+State+Employees+Association&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8" type="external">California State Employees Association</a>&#160;prior to running for public office in 1992. Since then, he’s spent all but two years holding political office: Sacramento city council member, 1992-98; state assemblyman 1998-2004, then the state Senate from 2006 until now. He’s term-limited out of office in 2014. It’s the common musical-chairs routine, staying in office but switching seats because of term limits.</p>
<p>The CSEA, a public employee labor union, is affiliated with the SEIU, and&#160;represents more than 141,000 state&#160;employees.</p>
<p>His&#160; <a href="http://www.smartvoter.org/2010/06/08/ca/state/vote/steinberg_d/bio.html" type="external">biography</a>&#160;says, “Prior to state public service Steinberg worked for ten years at the California State Employees Association as an employee rights attorney, and as an Administrative Law Judge and mediator.” But the dates are not listed.</p>
<p>His bio on the&#160; <a href="https://www.sacbar.org/pdfs/saclawyer/august01/cover_story.html" type="external">Sacramento Bar Association</a>&#160;reads differently: “For the six years&#160;prior to his election to the Assembly in 1998,&#160;Darrell Steinberg&#160;balanced his duties on the Sacramento City Council against the demands of his legal career, first as an employment lawyer and later as an administrative law judge and as a private arbitrator and mediator.”</p>
<p>It is important to note Steinberg also has taken out a committee to run for Lieutenant Governor. It is obvious that he is not going back to the private sector, either way, despite his affiliation with law firm Mackenroth, Ryan &amp; Fong.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>However, imagining ‘Mayor Steinberg’ could be a fun drinking game. Players must toss a shot of Tequilla every time a member of the public yells at ‘Mayor Steinberg.’</p>
<p>Steinberg, who has been safely tucked into the protective bubble of the State Senate since 2006, and the Assembly since 1998, would be giving up the protective layers of staff and labor union protection if he moved to city council as Mayor. With council meetings every Tuesday evening, members of the public regularly sign up to speak to to the council, and frequently wag their fingers at the Mayor and council members, upset over some impending policy.</p>
<p>Steinberg has not had to deal with the public much since he won his Assembly seat in 1998. His public contact is carefully scripted and controlled by staff.</p>
<p>However, all fun aside, the idea of Steinberg as Mayor is not a good one. He would bring with him a level of statism the likes of which this city has never seen.</p>
<p>Steinberg is responsible for shafting Sacramento in the October 2009 water bond package. It included major changes to the law that required 20 percent local-regional water conservation goals in every region of the state. It established strict enforcement against ‘illegal appropriation of water.’ It established new requirements for ground water penalties. And this bill&#160;is why Sacramento residents, who live on two rivers and the Delta, will be on water meters while cities in the Southern part of the state will not.</p>
<p>Steinberg, the father of SB 375, the&#160; <a href="http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0351-0400/sb_375_bill_20080930_chaptered.pdf" type="external">Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008</a>,&#160;is responsible for the&#160;requirements for most new housing to be built at 20 or more to the acre – &#160;at least five times the traditional quarter acre per house. This would radically restructure urban areas, forcing much of the new hyper-density development into narrowly confined corridors, all near light rail stations — and all under the auspices&#160;of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.</p>
<p>Steinberg is pro-labor union, and has actively worked to expand public and private unions throughout the state. He currently is pushing his bill, <a href="" type="internal">SB 25</a>, which would triple the size of the shrinking United Farm Workers by <a href="" type="internal">targeting six large, non-union farms in the state</a>.</p>
<p>He is currently supporting all of the gun control measures currently in the Legislature, including increasing the depth of background checks on gun purchasers and all ammunition purchases, outlawing “assault rifles,” which aren’t actual assault rifles, and all of the other anti-gun bills violating our Second Amendment rights.</p>
<p>A Steinberg mayoral term would be disastrous. He would bring with him&#160;the modern liberal assault on Constitution-based values, while creating a growing, unaccountable city government, as he did with the state.</p>
<p>Someone pass me the Tequilla.</p>
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july 10 2013 katy grimes sacramentos city council historically revolving door state politics names phil isenberg bob matsui debra ortiz lloyd connelly darrell steinberg dave jones ring bell politicians started sacramento city council ran state assembly senate congress matsuis case jones state insurance commissioner serving assembly good news leave sacramento pursuit higher office sacramento may get one back senate pres pro tem darrell steinberg dsacramento floated idea running sacramento district attorney considering mayor ive heard rumor preferred denial acknowledgment steinberg extraordinary160record run done harm sacramento its160residents during160his tenure senate pro tem perhaps legislator history politicly astute friend told yesterday hes pockets unions actively hostile towards democratic rights open government doctrinaire hardcore160leftwinger160 would an160utter160catastrophe sacramento couldnt said better cant go away get real job private sector another friend asked steinberg pondering run sacramento da wrote steinberg 53 worked employee rights attorney the160 california state employees association160prior running public office 1992 since hes spent two years holding political office sacramento city council member 199298 state assemblyman 19982004 state senate 2006 hes termlimited office 2014 common musicalchairs routine staying office switching seats term limits csea public employee labor union affiliated seiu and160represents 141000 state160employees his160 biography160says prior state public service steinberg worked ten years california state employees association employee rights attorney administrative law judge mediator dates listed bio the160 sacramento bar association160reads differently six years160prior election assembly 1998160darrell steinberg160balanced duties sacramento city council demands legal career first employment lawyer later administrative law judge private arbitrator mediator important note steinberg also taken committee run lieutenant governor obvious going back private sector either way despite affiliation law firm mackenroth ryan amp fong however imagining mayor steinberg could fun drinking game players must toss shot tequilla every time member public yells mayor steinberg steinberg safely tucked protective bubble state senate since 2006 assembly since 1998 would giving protective layers staff labor union protection moved city council mayor council meetings every tuesday evening members public regularly sign speak council frequently wag fingers mayor council members upset impending policy steinberg deal public much since assembly seat 1998 public contact carefully scripted controlled staff however fun aside idea steinberg mayor good one would bring level statism likes city never seen steinberg responsible shafting sacramento october 2009 water bond package included major changes law required 20 percent localregional water conservation goals every region state established strict enforcement illegal appropriation water established new requirements ground water penalties bill160is sacramento residents live two rivers delta water meters cities southern part state steinberg father sb 375 the160 sustainable communities climate protection act 2008160is responsible the160requirements new housing built 20 acre 160at least five times traditional quarter acre per house would radically restructure urban areas forcing much new hyperdensity development narrowly confined corridors near light rail stations auspices160of reducing greenhouse gas emissions steinberg prolabor union actively worked expand public private unions throughout state currently pushing bill sb 25 would triple size shrinking united farm workers targeting six large nonunion farms state currently supporting gun control measures currently legislature including increasing depth background checks gun purchasers ammunition purchases outlawing assault rifles arent actual assault rifles antigun bills violating second amendment rights steinberg mayoral term would disastrous would bring him160the modern liberal assault constitutionbased values creating growing unaccountable city government state someone pass tequilla
| 538 |
<p>Cherie Nuit (Photo courtesy of the Birchmere)</p>
<p>Angie Pontani and her burlesque troupe return for the 10th annual Burlesque-A-Pades at the Birchmere (3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, Va.) on Valentine’s Day (Tuesday, Feb. 14).</p>
<p>The show, dubbed Loveland this year, features Pontani and several New York-based performers such as Albert Cadabra, the Peek-a-Boo Revue, sister Helen Pontani, the Maine Attraction and more. Most hail from New York, but joining them will be MC Cherie Nuit, a Baltimore resident who works in both burlesque and as a college educator and administrator.</p>
<p>“As a performance artist, I love that it breaks down the boundaries of sexuality,” the Chicago native says. “I love that I can explore a variety of subjects through sensuality and use my body as a political weapon. Also I love to get naked, so that’s a plus.”</p>
<p>Nuit, the show’s “stage kitten” manages Burlesque-a-Pades and offers banter between acts. She’s been performing burlesque for five years and is especially looking forward to this year’s performance. A serious car accident prevented her from doing Burlesque-a-Pades last year and she’s thrilled to be back. Tickets are $29.50 for the 7:30 p.m. show. Details at <a href="http://birchmere.com" type="external">birchmere.com</a>.</p>
<p>Nuit lives in Baltimore’s Remington neighborhood with her partner, Pat Brennan. She enjoys painting, sculpting, hiking and hanging out with her burlesque family in her free time.</p>
<p />
<p>How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?&#160;</p>
<p>I have been out for eight years, and honestly, it was the hardest to explain to my mother. As someone that is both self-labeled as queer and pansexual, it was challenging for my mom to understand. She is a wonderful woman and I adore her, but she still struggles with it to this day. It is surprising, because she’s surrounded with drag and performance art, but she only sees the binary of sexuality.</p>
<p />
<p>Who’s your LGBT hero?&#160;</p>
<p>As a performer with a passion for comedy, I am always so proud to see women like Jane Lynch or Kate McKinnon kick ass in the field of comedy! I was told when I was in high school that women couldn’t be funny and that I couldn’t be sexy and intelligent. I pride myself on breaking that stereotype through everything that I do in my art and actions.</p>
<p />
<p>What’s Baltimore’s best nightspot, past or present?&#160;</p>
<p>Oh gosh, how I miss the Hippo! I have so many memories of waking up with whiplash from overexertion and dancing at the Hippo. Currently, I am loving the Crown for performance art, queer DJs and some delicious kimchi fries!</p>
<p />
<p>Describe your dream wedding.</p>
<p>Lots of booze, plenty of dancing and a thick layer of glitter on every surface. Although, to be honest, I used to be a wedding floral designer, so I am a little over weddings. Sorry y’all.</p>
<p />
<p>What non-LGBT issue are you most passionate about?</p>
<p>I am particularly passionate about rights for sex workers. It is an outrage that in this country we cannot provide emotional, physical or financial safety for those within the sex worker community.</p>
<p />
<p>What historical outcome would you change?&#160;</p>
<p>Two words: NO TRUMP</p>
<p />
<p>What’s been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?&#160;</p>
<p>As a performer in the burlesque world, it’s so delightful to see my dear friends showing up as “naked lady #2” or “sex shower girl” in many popular TV shows. I think we’re proud to represent the sexy, naked, sparkly universe. In the world of “Netflix and chill,” I find endless joy in being able to say, “Oh, did you watch the last episode of ‘Orange is the New Black’? My friend was the one banging Nicky.”</p>
<p />
<p>On what do you insist?&#160;</p>
<p>Dialogue and the power of compassion.</p>
<p />
<p>What was your last Facebook post or Tweet?&#160;</p>
<p>I posted a flier and photo for my upcoming show next week in Alexandria, Va., at the Birchmere: “Burlesque in Loveland starring Angie Pontani and a bevy of beauties! I’m so excited for the show because it features a cast from across the East Coast. It is one Valentine’s Day tradition that I would be devastated to miss out on!”</p>
<p />
<p>If your life were a book, what would the title be?&#160;</p>
<p>“More, Please!”</p>
<p />
<p>If science discovered a way to change sexual orientation, what would you do?&#160;</p>
<p>Fight for the rights of all of those who will now be pressured by their family, religious groups, societal communities and peers to adhere to a sexuality that doesn’t align with their heart. If this was to take place, we would have a hard battle ahead of us and I would be sad when the insurmountable pressures that youth would face as a result.</p>
<p />
<p>What do you believe in beyond the physical world?&#160;</p>
<p>I believe in the laws of cause and effect, and how this manifests karmically and scientifically.</p>
<p />
<p>What’s your advice for LGBT movement leaders?&#160;</p>
<p>Now, more so than ever, we must strengthen our stance and act as a voice for those who don’t have one, or are afraid to speak up. Fear is permeating the country, it’s our job as individuals in the public eye to take a firm stance. In the words of Maya Angelou, we must “stay angry, but never bitter.” We must use that anger to fight and allow our love for humanity to propel us forward.</p>
<p />
<p>What would you walk across hot coals for?&#160;</p>
<p>Cheese? I’m a really big fan of cheese. I would do a lot of things for cheese. But really, I would walk across hot coals to fight for what I believe in. I’m not the sort of individual that can sit complacent while so much injustice permeates our nation.</p>
<p />
<p>What LGBT stereotype annoys you most?&#160;</p>
<p>Am I allowed to just say “The L Word”? We don’t all sit around at the juice bar gossiping like mean girls. I’m not even sure I know where the closest juice bar is. Maybe you can tell me, maybe I’m just not plugged in enough to know where these juice bar friends are.</p>
<p />
<p>What’s your favorite LGBT movie?</p>
<p>“Blue is the Warmest Color” gave me some serious feels recently. However, that being said, “The Birdcage” and “Velvet Goldmine” are pretty much on constant loop in our household.</p>
<p />
<p>What’s the most overrated social custom? &#160;</p>
<p>Having previously worked in the wedding industry, I pretty much think that most customs tied to weddings are antiquated and mildly offensive.</p>
<p />
<p>What trophy or prize do you most covet?&#160;</p>
<p>I have a fully rhinestoned banana on a pedestal in my home that I won for a burlesque act I did wherein I had a talking Fannypack vagina. Mull over that for a little bit.</p>
<p />
<p>What do you wish you’d known at 18?</p>
<p>Stop straightening your bangs.</p>
<p />
<p>Why Baltimore? &#160;</p>
<p>For everything that it is and everything it’s not. I love Baltimore for the gaps it leaves for growth and the space it provides for nurturing creativity.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Albert Cadabra</a> <a href="" type="internal">Angie Pontani</a> <a href="" type="internal">Burlesque</a> <a href="" type="internal">Burlesque-A-Pades</a> <a href="" type="internal">Cherie Nuit</a> <a href="" type="internal">Helen Pontani</a> <a href="" type="internal">Maine Attraction</a> <a href="" type="internal">The Birchmere</a> <a href="" type="internal">the Peek-a-Boo Revue</a> <a href="" type="internal">Valentine's Day</a></p>
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cherie nuit photo courtesy birchmere angie pontani burlesque troupe return 10th annual burlesqueapades birchmere 3701 mt vernon ave alexandria va valentines day tuesday feb 14 show dubbed loveland year features pontani several new yorkbased performers albert cadabra peekaboo revue sister helen pontani maine attraction hail new york joining mc cherie nuit baltimore resident works burlesque college educator administrator performance artist love breaks boundaries sexuality chicago native says love explore variety subjects sensuality use body political weapon also love get naked thats plus nuit shows stage kitten manages burlesqueapades offers banter acts shes performing burlesque five years especially looking forward years performance serious car accident prevented burlesqueapades last year shes thrilled back tickets 2950 730 pm show details birchmerecom nuit lives baltimores remington neighborhood partner pat brennan enjoys painting sculpting hiking hanging burlesque family free time long hardest person tell160 eight years honestly hardest explain mother someone selflabeled queer pansexual challenging mom understand wonderful woman adore still struggles day surprising shes surrounded drag performance art sees binary sexuality whos lgbt hero160 performer passion comedy always proud see women like jane lynch kate mckinnon kick ass field comedy told high school women couldnt funny couldnt sexy intelligent pride breaking stereotype everything art actions whats baltimores best nightspot past present160 oh gosh miss hippo many memories waking whiplash overexertion dancing hippo currently loving crown performance art queer djs delicious kimchi fries describe dream wedding lots booze plenty dancing thick layer glitter every surface although honest used wedding floral designer little weddings sorry yall nonlgbt issue passionate particularly passionate rights sex workers outrage country provide emotional physical financial safety within sex worker community historical outcome would change160 two words trump whats memorable pop culture moment lifetime160 performer burlesque world delightful see dear friends showing naked lady 2 sex shower girl many popular tv shows think proud represent sexy naked sparkly universe world netflix chill find endless joy able say oh watch last episode orange new black friend one banging nicky insist160 dialogue power compassion last facebook post tweet160 posted flier photo upcoming show next week alexandria va birchmere burlesque loveland starring angie pontani bevy beauties im excited show features cast across east coast one valentines day tradition would devastated miss life book would title be160 please science discovered way change sexual orientation would do160 fight rights pressured family religious groups societal communities peers adhere sexuality doesnt align heart take place would hard battle ahead us would sad insurmountable pressures youth would face result believe beyond physical world160 believe laws cause effect manifests karmically scientifically whats advice lgbt movement leaders160 ever must strengthen stance act voice dont one afraid speak fear permeating country job individuals public eye take firm stance words maya angelou must stay angry never bitter must use anger fight allow love humanity propel us forward would walk across hot coals for160 cheese im really big fan cheese would lot things cheese really would walk across hot coals fight believe im sort individual sit complacent much injustice permeates nation lgbt stereotype annoys most160 allowed say l word dont sit around juice bar gossiping like mean girls im even sure know closest juice bar maybe tell maybe im plugged enough know juice bar friends whats favorite lgbt movie blue warmest color gave serious feels recently however said birdcage velvet goldmine pretty much constant loop household whats overrated social custom 160 previously worked wedding industry pretty much think customs tied weddings antiquated mildly offensive trophy prize covet160 fully rhinestoned banana pedestal home burlesque act wherein talking fannypack vagina mull little bit wish youd known 18 stop straightening bangs baltimore 160 everything everything love baltimore gaps leaves growth space provides nurturing creativity albert cadabra angie pontani burlesque burlesqueapades cherie nuit helen pontani maine attraction birchmere peekaboo revue valentines day
| 623 |
<p>Congratulations! You’ve heard as much as you need to about Donald Trump’s taxes and Hillary Clinton’s emails. You’ve weighed your options and made a decision on who you’re supporting for president this year.</p>
<p>Now you just need to figure out how to vote.</p>
<p>For most people who do it every cycle, voting is easy. But if you’re a first-time voter, or you recently moved, or you’re home-bound, or you lack transportation, or you don’t speak English — to name just a few potential hurdles — the process can be a little more complicated. And in our democratic system it’s crucial that every eligible voter, no matter their life circumstances, has the chance to cast a ballot.</p>
<p>Here’s what you need to know to ensure you can make your voice heard in Election 2016. At the bottom, we’ve included some helpful links to get you started.</p>
<p>One general point to keep in mind from the outset: We don’t have one voting system in the U.S., we have 51. That’s because the Constitution gives states, not the federal government, the authority to run elections. To see how much variation there can be among states, consider that in Oregon, voting happens predominantly by mail, while some other states require almost all voters to physically show up at the polls. In fact, in many states, things like early voting hours can even differ from one county to another.</p>
<p>It’s also helpful to think of voting as a two-stage process: First registering to vote, then casting your ballot — though it’s true that in a few states, you can do both in one go, as we’ll see below.</p>
<p>REGISTERING TO VOTE:</p>
<p>How do I register?</p>
<p>Every state except North Dakota uses a system of voter registration, in which you need to be registered at your current address. Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia allow you to register online. If you’re in one of the 12 states that don’t offer online voter registration, you can get a voter registration application mailed to you by contacting your local or state election board, or you can go online to print out the federal registration form. You’ll then need to fill it out and mail it in. DMV offices and public assistance agencies also are required by federal law to offer you the chance to register any time you come into contact with them. And some organizations, as well as the campaigns, conduct voter registration drives in public places like malls or on the street.</p>
<p>If you’re not sure whether your registration status is up to date, the easiest way to check is by calling your county or state election board.</p>
<p>When do I register?</p>
<p>You’ll want to hurry, because in many states <a href="http://www.rockthevote.com/get-informed/elections/voter-registration-deadlines.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/" type="external">the deadline</a> is approaching fast (it’s already passed in a few). By contrast, 13 states and the District of Columbia offer same-day voter registration, which lets you register and vote all in one (though in a few of these states, that option is available only during the early voting period, not on election day).</p>
<p>What do I need to register?</p>
<p>If you’re registering to vote for the first time in a federal election, you're required by law to provide your driver’s license number or Social Security number, if you have either one. If you don’t, you should still be allowed to vote by showing the proper identification at the polls.</p>
<p>Some states require that even voters who have registered before provide a form of identification each time they register. Everyone who registers must swear on penalty of perjury that they’re a U.S. citizen, but four states have laws requiring you to show proof of citizenship when you register. Only Kansas is enforcing theirs, and it’s being challenged in court.</p>
<p>CASTING YOUR BALLOT:</p>
<p>How, where, and when do I vote?</p>
<p>We still think of elections as involving everyone going to the polls together on one day in early November. But in 2012, nearly one third of voters cast their ballots before Election Day. And that figure is likely to rise this year.</p>
<p>So there are several ways to vote. Find out which ones your states offers, then pick the method that best fits your needs.</p>
<p>— In-person early voting — some states call it “in-person absentee voting” — involves casting your ballot in person by going either to the polls or to your local elections office before Election Day. The dates, hours, and locations for early in-person voting vary from state to state and sometimes from county to county. In Iowa, for instance, it’s already begun, while 11 states don’t offer in-person early voting at all. Most early voting states offer weekend and evening hours to accommodate working people.</p>
<p>— Absentee voting is where you apply for a special absentee ballot (some states send them automatically to most voters), then mail it or bring it in to your local election office. Again, there’s a lot of variance between states: Some let anyone vote absentee, while others require that you provide a good reason why you can’t make it to the polls in person. The deadline to request absentee ballot also varies, but it’s generally around a week before Election Day.</p>
<p>— Good old-fashioned voting in person on Election Day. Here, too, polling places open at different hours depending on the state.</p>
<p>If you vote at the polls, you’ll likely need to go to your correct polling location (a few states let people vote in any precinct). You should receive something in the mail directing you to your polling location. You can also look it up online, or call your local election office.</p>
<p>Be warned that the process can take a half hour, or more if there's a line (in rare instances, it can take a lot longer.) So make sure to budget some time.</p>
<p>What do I need to vote?</p>
<p>Yet again, it depends on the state. Some have no identification requirements at all — your signature just needs to match the one on your voter registration form. A few states, like Wisconsin, require a photo ID issued by the state or the federal government, though some photo ID requirements have been blocked or modified by the court.</p>
<p>Keep in mind: Our election system is far from perfect, and it’s not uncommon for would-be voters to encounter unanticipated problems at the polls. If you do, you should know that you always have the right to cast a provisional ballot. Then you’ll need to return within a certain time frame after the election — again, it varies — with the required identification to ensure your ballot counts.</p>
<p>Be aware also that the rules for voting — when polls are open, what ID is needed, and more — can sometimes change even just weeks before the election, thanks to <a href="" type="internal">ongoing litigation</a>over voting rules. So it’s important to make sure your information is up-to-date.</p>
<p>Now that you get the general idea, here are some links that can help you start the process.</p>
<p>— To print out a voter registration form via the website of the Election Assistance Commission (a federal agency that helps states run elections) go <a href="http://www.eac.gov/voter_resources/register_to_vote.aspx" type="external">here</a>.</p>
<p>— To learn about your state’s rules for how and when to register and vote, and what kind of identification is required, go to <a href="http://www.eac.gov/voter_resources/contact_your_state.aspx" type="external">this page</a> on the EAC site, and then click on your state.</p>
<p>— To find out your state’s deadline for registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot, go to <a href="https://www.usvotefoundation.org/vote/state-elections/state-election-dates-deadlines.htm" type="external">this page</a> on the website of the non-partisan U.S. Vote Foundation.</p>
<p>— To find out about what identification, if any, your state requires, go to <a href="http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/voter-id.aspx" type="external">this page</a> on the website of the Non-partisan National Conference of State Legislatures.</p>
<p>— To find out your polling location, go to <a href="http://www.866ourvote.org/pages/find-your-voting-information" type="external">this page</a> on the website of the non-partisan Election Protection coalition. If you run into problems trying to register or vote, you can call the Election Protection hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE.</p>
<p />
| false | 3 |
congratulations youve heard much need donald trumps taxes hillary clintons emails youve weighed options made decision youre supporting president year need figure vote people every cycle voting easy youre firsttime voter recently moved youre homebound lack transportation dont speak english name potential hurdles process little complicated democratic system crucial every eligible voter matter life circumstances chance cast ballot heres need know ensure make voice heard election 2016 bottom weve included helpful links get started one general point keep mind outset dont one voting system us 51 thats constitution gives states federal government authority run elections see much variation among states consider oregon voting happens predominantly mail states require almost voters physically show polls fact many states things like early voting hours even differ one county another also helpful think voting twostage process first registering vote casting ballot though true states one go well see registering vote register every state except north dakota uses system voter registration need registered current address thirtyeight states district columbia allow register online youre one 12 states dont offer online voter registration get voter registration application mailed contacting local state election board go online print federal registration form youll need fill mail dmv offices public assistance agencies also required federal law offer chance register time come contact organizations well campaigns conduct voter registration drives public places like malls street youre sure whether registration status date easiest way check calling county state election board register youll want hurry many states deadline approaching fast already passed contrast 13 states district columbia offer sameday voter registration lets register vote one though states option available early voting period election day need register youre registering vote first time federal election youre required law provide drivers license number social security number either one dont still allowed vote showing proper identification polls states require even voters registered provide form identification time register everyone registers must swear penalty perjury theyre us citizen four states laws requiring show proof citizenship register kansas enforcing challenged court casting ballot vote still think elections involving everyone going polls together one day early november 2012 nearly one third voters cast ballots election day figure likely rise year several ways vote find ones states offers pick method best fits needs inperson early voting states call inperson absentee voting involves casting ballot person going either polls local elections office election day dates hours locations early inperson voting vary state state sometimes county county iowa instance already begun 11 states dont offer inperson early voting early voting states offer weekend evening hours accommodate working people absentee voting apply special absentee ballot states send automatically voters mail bring local election office theres lot variance states let anyone vote absentee others require provide good reason cant make polls person deadline request absentee ballot also varies generally around week election day good oldfashioned voting person election day polling places open different hours depending state vote polls youll likely need go correct polling location states let people vote precinct receive something mail directing polling location also look online call local election office warned process take half hour theres line rare instances take lot longer make sure budget time need vote yet depends state identification requirements signature needs match one voter registration form states like wisconsin require photo id issued state federal government though photo id requirements blocked modified court keep mind election system far perfect uncommon wouldbe voters encounter unanticipated problems polls know always right cast provisional ballot youll need return within certain time frame election varies required identification ensure ballot counts aware also rules voting polls open id needed sometimes change even weeks election thanks ongoing litigationover voting rules important make sure information uptodate get general idea links help start process print voter registration form via website election assistance commission federal agency helps states run elections go learn states rules register vote kind identification required go page eac site click state find states deadline registering vote requesting absentee ballot go page website nonpartisan us vote foundation find identification state requires go page website nonpartisan national conference state legislatures find polling location go page website nonpartisan election protection coalition run problems trying register vote call election protection hotline 1866ourvote
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<p>Late in the afternoon, as long shadows play across Kigali's lush rolling hills, a dozen Rwandan student show up for Chinese class at the Confucius Institute. They greet their Chinese teachers with a "ni hao," — hello, in Chinese, and then the guys gather for a kung fu lesson, while the women watch on the fringes.</p>
<p>"I like learning Chinese," says Marianje Ayinkiamiye, who's been studying here almost a year. "I'd like to study Chinese medicine, and bring it back here. Also, I like singing in Chinese. May I sing you something?"</p>
<p>Of course, I reply. Her voice is sweet, and rich. The song is a traditional Chinese ode to the jasmine blossom. When she's done, I compliment her on her singing, and ask if she knows that this year in China, the government has been blocking online mentions of "jasmine." It's been worried about potential attempts to spread the "Jasmine Revolution" of the Middle East to China.</p>
<p>"Thanks for that news," she says, with a little smile. "I hadn't heard about it."</p>
<p>No surprise there. China's Confucius Institutes around the world are about spreading appreciation for Chinese culture and language, not news about political fault lines in China. The Confucius Institutes are part of the Chinese government's multi-billion dollar effort to improve its image in the world, and increase its 'soft power' — the degree to which others admire, appreciate and want to emulate China. Since the Confucius Institute project started seven years ago, some 300 have opened around the globe — 21 in Africa.</p>
<p>"I want African people to know the real China," says Kong Lingyuan, the Kigali Confucius Institute's Chinese director. He's lanky and laid-back, having apparently absorbed some of the local culture from when he was a PhD student in anthropology at Berkeley. But he still doesn't think highly of Western media coverage of China — including coverage of China's efforts in Africa.</p>
<p>"For instance, they say Chinese companies take out Africans' resources, and pollute the environment," he says. But in fact, in Rwanda, more than 80 percent of the roads were built by Chinese companies. And the biggest building was built by Chinese people."</p>
<p>I suggest that both are true — that Chinese companies are involved in extracting copper, minerals and oil from places like Zambia, Congo and Angola but that they also build infrastructure. Kong shrugs good-naturedly, but says he still thinks the international image of China in Africa is off.</p>
<p>"Because the Chinese use these resources to serve the whole world, including America, Europe, Africa — not just China," he says.</p>
<p>The Confucius Institute here has about 300 students now, with big plans to expand — to teach Chinese in Rwandan universities, high schools and eventually, primary schools. The first program in a high school is about to start. Kong says, while the outreach is intended to improve Rwandans' understanding and appreciation of China, there's something of practical value in it for them, too.</p>
<p>"Chinese language will become an international business language," he says. "Right now, it's English, but China will become more used. So people who want to do international business will do better if they learn Chinese."</p>
<p>Some of the students here don't need to be persuaded. Enable Sibomana, a 28-year-old physical education teacher, says he'd like to do an MA in physical education in China.</p>
<p>"If we speak the language, the Chinese government gives Rwandans a chance to go," he says. "They give us scholarships — more than other countries."</p>
<p>Sibomana throws himself into the kung fu instruction at the start of class, crouching and punching the air. He towers over his Chinese instructor — and when he crouches, his pants hitch up to reveal Tweetybird-emblazoned socks.</p>
<p>And then — on to the classroom, where the second part of today's lesson is on learning the Chinese National Anthem. Next month marks the 40th anniversary of China-Rwanda diplomatic relations, and the Rwandan students and Chinese teachers plan to sing each other's national anthems.</p>
<p>Teacher Zeng Guangyu cues up the music as students file in. A t 28, he's already been in Rwanda for two and a half years, and says he loves it here.</p>
<p>"No pollution. No traffic jam. And the weather is like spring," he says with a grin. "And the peaceful pace of life — it isn't like in China, where we're always rushing."</p>
<p>Zeng says he taught African students in China before coming here, and was impressed with how quickly they picked up language — perhaps not surprising, since many of them speak several. But here, he says, it's a bit more of a challenge.</p>
<p>"They don't have the context to use Chinese, so they don't have much motivation to learn," he says. "Even though they learn some Chinese, it's not enough to apply to work for a Chinese company, or to use in daily life."</p>
<p>Still, Zeng presses on. He explains to the class that they're first just going to listen to China's National Anthem. He plays it, and the other Chinese teachers in the room sit straighter as the familiar chords rush over them, the exhortation for Chinese to rise up against their oppressors, and use their blood and flesh to build a new Great Wall, a new China.</p>
<p>The song comes to an end, and Zeng turns hopefully to his Rwandans students.</p>
<p>"So, you've just heard the Chinese National Anthem for the first time. What is your feeling?" he asks.</p>
<p>There's a pause. One student raises a hand. "It's too short," he says.</p>
<p>"Too short," Zeng replies, looking a little deflated. "Ok. Well, let's start learning it anyway."</p>
<p>He walks the students through the first line, "Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves!." They repeat, and repeat again. And again. When he gets to the part about "With our flesh and blood, let us build our new Great Wall," he skips over translating "xuerou" — blood and flesh, but does translate "Great Wall." After a few repetitions, he turns the recording back on, and the students try singing along.</p>
<p>It'll still take some work. But then, the Chinese teachers also have to get cracking on learning the Rwandan National Anthem. One of the male students offers to come up and sing it. Its lyrics couldn't be in sharper contrast to China's anthem. It's about how Rwanda is a land of beautiful mountains and lakes and volcanoes, of people living peacefully together. No mention of flesh and blood here. Rwanda has had more than its share of spilling both, and prefers now to focus on a more hopeful future.</p>
<p>The student finishes singing the Rwandan national anthem, and takes in the applause. Then, he says, "and now I'd like to sing a Chinese song." He, too, launches into the song about the jasmine flower — singing in a high falsetto. The Chinese teacher, Zeng, looks slightly flustered.</p>
<p>"Wow, we haven't reviewed that song in almost a year, and the students still remember," he says. "I guess that shows how well you can remember words if you set them to music. So we must work on our national anthems!"</p>
<p>Director Kong already has the Rwandan anthem down. He thinks it's important to show respect for the local culture, when teaching your own.</p>
<p>"The former director here, an older guy, had a bad relationship with the local director, because he didn't know how to deal with local people," Kong says. "He only wanted African people to learn Chinese, but he did not want to learn local culture. When I came here, I learned some of the local language, and the national anthem, and I learned Rwandan heritage. And they treat me very well. I think if you want other people to learn your culture, you should learn theirs first."</p>
<p>After class, Kong runs into his Rwandan codirector, a woman, and they greet each other like old friends. Kong suggests they sing the Rwandan national anthem together, and they do, with relish, to the delight of the students who gather to listen.</p>
<p>Kong may just have tapped into the secret to real soft power – reaching not for power, but for a genuine human connection.</p>
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late afternoon long shadows play across kigalis lush rolling hills dozen rwandan student show chinese class confucius institute greet chinese teachers ni hao hello chinese guys gather kung fu lesson women watch fringes like learning chinese says marianje ayinkiamiye whos studying almost year id like study chinese medicine bring back also like singing chinese may sing something course reply voice sweet rich song traditional chinese ode jasmine blossom shes done compliment singing ask knows year china government blocking online mentions jasmine worried potential attempts spread jasmine revolution middle east china thanks news says little smile hadnt heard surprise chinas confucius institutes around world spreading appreciation chinese culture language news political fault lines china confucius institutes part chinese governments multibillion dollar effort improve image world increase soft power degree others admire appreciate want emulate china since confucius institute project started seven years ago 300 opened around globe 21 africa want african people know real china says kong lingyuan kigali confucius institutes chinese director hes lanky laidback apparently absorbed local culture phd student anthropology berkeley still doesnt think highly western media coverage china including coverage chinas efforts africa instance say chinese companies take africans resources pollute environment says fact rwanda 80 percent roads built chinese companies biggest building built chinese people suggest true chinese companies involved extracting copper minerals oil places like zambia congo angola also build infrastructure kong shrugs goodnaturedly says still thinks international image china africa chinese use resources serve whole world including america europe africa china says confucius institute 300 students big plans expand teach chinese rwandan universities high schools eventually primary schools first program high school start kong says outreach intended improve rwandans understanding appreciation china theres something practical value chinese language become international business language says right english china become used people want international business better learn chinese students dont need persuaded enable sibomana 28yearold physical education teacher says hed like physical education china speak language chinese government gives rwandans chance go says give us scholarships countries sibomana throws kung fu instruction start class crouching punching air towers chinese instructor crouches pants hitch reveal tweetybirdemblazoned socks classroom second part todays lesson learning chinese national anthem next month marks 40th anniversary chinarwanda diplomatic relations rwandan students chinese teachers plan sing others national anthems teacher zeng guangyu cues music students file 28 hes already rwanda two half years says loves pollution traffic jam weather like spring says grin peaceful pace life isnt like china always rushing zeng says taught african students china coming impressed quickly picked language perhaps surprising since many speak several says bit challenge dont context use chinese dont much motivation learn says even though learn chinese enough apply work chinese company use daily life still zeng presses explains class theyre first going listen chinas national anthem plays chinese teachers room sit straighter familiar chords rush exhortation chinese rise oppressors use blood flesh build new great wall new china song comes end zeng turns hopefully rwandans students youve heard chinese national anthem first time feeling asks theres pause one student raises hand short says short zeng replies looking little deflated ok well lets start learning anyway walks students first line arise ye refuse slaves repeat repeat gets part flesh blood let us build new great wall skips translating xuerou blood flesh translate great wall repetitions turns recording back students try singing along itll still take work chinese teachers also get cracking learning rwandan national anthem one male students offers come sing lyrics couldnt sharper contrast chinas anthem rwanda land beautiful mountains lakes volcanoes people living peacefully together mention flesh blood rwanda share spilling prefers focus hopeful future student finishes singing rwandan national anthem takes applause says id like sing chinese song launches song jasmine flower singing high falsetto chinese teacher zeng looks slightly flustered wow havent reviewed song almost year students still remember says guess shows well remember words set music must work national anthems director kong already rwandan anthem thinks important show respect local culture teaching former director older guy bad relationship local director didnt know deal local people kong says wanted african people learn chinese want learn local culture came learned local language national anthem learned rwandan heritage treat well think want people learn culture learn first class kong runs rwandan codirector woman greet like old friends kong suggests sing rwandan national anthem together relish delight students gather listen kong may tapped secret real soft power reaching power genuine human connection
| 736 |
<p>The school-level budgets released to principals Friday afternoon included no reduction in the number of teachers that would result in class size increases, but the salary lines did not include the four percent raises promised to teachers. The school-level budgets released to principals Friday afternoon included no reduction in the number of teachers that would result in class size increases, but the salary lines did not include the four percent raises promised to teachers. &#160; The district is facing an estimated $720 million budget deficit and CEO Jean-Claude Brizard could be setting the stage for district leaders to declare a fiscal emergency–a move that could get the district out of paying the raises. The raises will cost the district about $80 million.</p>
<p>The board needs to declare by June 15 if they are going to do so. If a fiscal emergency is declared and the board votes not to pay the raises, the union would have the option of renegotiating its contract, or of going on strike.</p>
<p>In a letter to principals, Jean-Claude Brizard said that the board of education must approve the salary increase and that he was being conservative.&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>Kenzo Shibata, member communications coordinator for the Chicago Teachers Union, took a conciliatory tone in response to the raises not being included in the school-level budgets.</p>
<p>“They are following procedure,” Shibata said. “We do know that it’s a new board, a new mayor and a new CEO, and we are expecting them to do the right thing by kids. That is all we know at this point.”</p>
<p>It is unclear whether school-level budgets typically have salary lines with raises, but there’s seemingly no reason why Brizard couldn’t have included them if he planned on paying them. The school-level budgets are planning documents.</p>
<p>Don Moore, executive director of Designs for Change, points out that the district signed a legal contract agreeing to pay the raises.</p>
<p>“It is nonsense,” said. “It is all public relations.”</p>
<p>Other than not committing to the salary increases, the budgets released to the schools did not shed much light on where Brizard will find pools of money to offset the deficit. About 150 “supplemental teaching positions and other staff” were not funded by the district, Carroll said. But she noted that principals could keep these counselors and other staff on by using discretionary money.&#160;</p>
<p>At this point, Brizard, however, isn’t instructing principals to layoff teachers in order to increase class sizes, nor is he cutting positions for magnet and world language programs. He’s also funding early childhood and full-day kindergarten, despite the fact that it looks as though the district is going to receive less state funding for them. And discretionary money is remaining level.</p>
<p>Brizard announced Thursday that he has already found $75 million to trim in the central office and facilities and maintenance budgets. Area offices also have reportedly been told to cut between 37 and 40 percent.</p>
<p>Below is the letter Brizard sent to principals:</p>
<p>Dear Principals:</p>
<p>As you know, CPS faces a massive budget deficit of $720 million for fiscal year 2012. A large portion of this deficit is being driven by the loss of millions in federal stimulus dollars. We have also faced a great deal of uncertainty in Springfield, only learning Tuesday that the legislature is slashing aid to schools along with some CPS block grants, leaving us another $77 million in the red.</p>
<p>Yesterday, Mayor Emanuel and I announced $75 million of reductions in administrative and non-classroom spending to do our part in ensuring that our children’s education comes before all else during this fiscal crisis. I believe that commitment is reflected in the priorities funded in your school-based budget.</p>
<p>My commitment to you as our school leaders is to keep cuts as far away from the classroom as possible while directing every dollar possible towards them.&#160; I know you have been faced with an unconscionable delay in the release of your school-based budget, which is why I instructed staff on my first day as CEO to have budgets in hand by today. I’m now writing to let you know that the Public Sector Budgeting (PSB) tool in Oracle is now open for schools, and you can begin working on your budgets immediately.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, because of the delay in issuing these budgets, you are going to face some very challenging time constraints: the PSB tool will close on Sunday, June 12. Our information technology teams have worked diligently over the last several weeks to prepare our technology systems for the heavy load in traffic we expect next week, but we still encourage you to get started right away. These school based budgets reflect the best assumptions available to us at this time and we believe they will be very reliable planning tools for you.</p>
<p>Let me address some of the major items you will see in the budgets as you open them: •&#160;&#160;&#160; There will be no increases to class size. •&#160;&#160;&#160; We are sustaining our support of early childhood education, including supplemental full-day kindergarten positions, despite the fact that the state has slashed block grant funding for them. •&#160;&#160;&#160; We are maintaining magnet and world language positions. •&#160;&#160;&#160; We are maintaining existing Culture of Calm positions, which will be funded with Title I dollars and not your school’s discretionary allocation. •&#160;&#160;&#160; Supplemental General State Aid and NCLB Title 1 (discretionary) funding will remain level. Our budget situation will force us to trim some supplemental and instructional support programs. Impacted schools will see these reductions in their budget packets and these reductions will vary on a case by case basis.</p>
<p>You will also see that there are no 4% salary increases for teachers loaded in your budgets. That is because any increases must be approved by the Board of Education, and the newly appointed board has not yet met. Therefore, we took a conservative approach and left out scheduled salary increases for now. The final decision lies with the board (not with senior management), and we anticipate they will make a determination this month, in accordance with the deadline in the collective bargaining agreement. As you plan your budgets for next year, you should expect that any board funded positions not supported by school membership after the 20th day of student attendance will not be maintained. This may not require any immediate action, but should be kept in mind during your planning process.</p>
<p>A small group of you will see some cuts to supplemental teaching positions and other staff. You may be able to augment these cuts with your discretionary dollars. Once you submit budgets, our human capital team must conduct an analysis of positions—and any potential layoffs—to ensure we abide by all parts of our collective bargaining agreements. Once that is complete, we will reach out to you with more guidance and detailed timing.</p>
<p>While some things may change, and the CPS budget will not be final until August, the school-based budgets available to you today will help you make the decisions you need to define your FY 12 programming. Our central office staff, our business service centers, and your chief area officers are all prepared to support you in this process. Business service centers will offer extended hours throughout next week, and will be open next weekend (June 11 and 12) to assist you. In fact, many of you are already participating in training today.</p>
<p>On behalf of the entire senior leadership team, I want to thank you for your incredible patience and understanding over the last several months. We know this has been enormously frustrating for you, and we appreciate how hard you are working on behalf of our students, teachers and communities.</p>
<p>Jean-Claude Brizard Chief Executive Officer</p>
<p />
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schoollevel budgets released principals friday afternoon included reduction number teachers would result class size increases salary lines include four percent raises promised teachers schoollevel budgets released principals friday afternoon included reduction number teachers would result class size increases salary lines include four percent raises promised teachers 160 district facing estimated 720 million budget deficit ceo jeanclaude brizard could setting stage district leaders declare fiscal emergencya move could get district paying raises raises cost district 80 million board needs declare june 15 going fiscal emergency declared board votes pay raises union would option renegotiating contract going strike letter principals jeanclaude brizard said board education must approve salary increase conservative160 kenzo shibata member communications coordinator chicago teachers union took conciliatory tone response raises included schoollevel budgets following procedure shibata said know new board new mayor new ceo expecting right thing kids know point unclear whether schoollevel budgets typically salary lines raises theres seemingly reason brizard couldnt included planned paying schoollevel budgets planning documents moore executive director designs change points district signed legal contract agreeing pay raises nonsense said public relations committing salary increases budgets released schools shed much light brizard find pools money offset deficit 150 supplemental teaching positions staff funded district carroll said noted principals could keep counselors staff using discretionary money160 point brizard however isnt instructing principals layoff teachers order increase class sizes cutting positions magnet world language programs hes also funding early childhood fullday kindergarten despite fact looks though district going receive less state funding discretionary money remaining level brizard announced thursday already found 75 million trim central office facilities maintenance budgets area offices also reportedly told cut 37 40 percent letter brizard sent principals dear principals know cps faces massive budget deficit 720 million fiscal year 2012 large portion deficit driven loss millions federal stimulus dollars also faced great deal uncertainty springfield learning tuesday legislature slashing aid schools along cps block grants leaving us another 77 million red yesterday mayor emanuel announced 75 million reductions administrative nonclassroom spending part ensuring childrens education comes else fiscal crisis believe commitment reflected priorities funded schoolbased budget commitment school leaders keep cuts far away classroom possible directing every dollar possible towards them160 know faced unconscionable delay release schoolbased budget instructed staff first day ceo budgets hand today im writing let know public sector budgeting psb tool oracle open schools begin working budgets immediately unfortunately delay issuing budgets going face challenging time constraints psb tool close sunday june 12 information technology teams worked diligently last several weeks prepare technology systems heavy load traffic expect next week still encourage get started right away school based budgets reflect best assumptions available us time believe reliable planning tools let address major items see budgets open 160160160 increases class size 160160160 sustaining support early childhood education including supplemental fullday kindergarten positions despite fact state slashed block grant funding 160160160 maintaining magnet world language positions 160160160 maintaining existing culture calm positions funded title dollars schools discretionary allocation 160160160 supplemental general state aid nclb title 1 discretionary funding remain level budget situation force us trim supplemental instructional support programs impacted schools see reductions budget packets reductions vary case case basis also see 4 salary increases teachers loaded budgets increases must approved board education newly appointed board yet met therefore took conservative approach left scheduled salary increases final decision lies board senior management anticipate make determination month accordance deadline collective bargaining agreement plan budgets next year expect board funded positions supported school membership 20th day student attendance maintained may require immediate action kept mind planning process small group see cuts supplemental teaching positions staff may able augment cuts discretionary dollars submit budgets human capital team must conduct analysis positionsand potential layoffsto ensure abide parts collective bargaining agreements complete reach guidance detailed timing things may change cps budget final august schoolbased budgets available today help make decisions need define fy 12 programming central office staff business service centers chief area officers prepared support process business service centers offer extended hours throughout next week open next weekend june 11 12 assist fact many already participating training today behalf entire senior leadership team want thank incredible patience understanding last several months know enormously frustrating appreciate hard working behalf students teachers communities jeanclaude brizard chief executive officer
| 703 |
<p>When I return to the University of North Texas for the fall semester, I’ll have no way of knowing who is carrying a firearm. As of August 1, students, faculty, and staff with concealed weapon permits may carry guns on public university campuses, under a <a href="" type="internal">law approved last year.</a></p>
<p>I’m a black female professor working in a Texas town <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/dallas/headlines/20150625-symbols-of-the-confederacy-abound-in-dallas.ece" type="external">with a prominent Confederate memorial</a>. I teach journalism courses that spark debate about race, gender, and nationality. I have serious reservations about campus carry.</p>
<p>Proponents of the new law claim that if more people are armed at institutions of higher learning, we will all be safer. Days after he signed the bill, Governor Greg Abbott declared that would-be shooters in Texas would now understand that “somebody is going to be watching them and have the ability to do something about it” if they open fire on a college campus.</p>
<p>But I don’t feel safer. The idea of working in an environment where anyone may have a gun makes me feel perpetually under threat. I’m afraid of accidents, mostly, but also of misplaced anger and emotional distress. I’m afraid that situations that occur every day on college campuses, like a classroom debate or an office visit about grades, will escalate into deadly shooting.</p>
<p>My mother wants me to quit. Friends send me job ads in other states. A few high-profile academics&#160;— including a <a href="http://college.usatoday.com/2016/02/28/ut-dean-resigns-camupus-carry/" type="external">University of Texas dean</a> and a <a href="http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2015/10/07/citing-concerns-with-campus-carry-professor-emeritus-to-withdraw" type="external">professor emeritus</a> — have already made a public show of leaving. But the job market makes it hard for me to consider leaving my first tenure-track position. Even now, while guns are still technically banned from campus, they often show up in campus crime reports. It would be naive to think those incidents won’t increase when more permit holders can legally bring their guns to campus.</p>
<p>To be absolutely clear: I am not anti-gun. I have never touched a firearm, though I’ve long been interested in obtaining a license to own and carry one. I live alone, and I’m often on the road. Having a tool that would allow me an extra measure of protection is attractive. I’ve also considered carrying a gun as matter of liberation — the kind preached by black militants like Malcolm X and Fred Hampton, who advocated for gun ownership as a means of protecting black bodies like mine from all types of threats.</p>
<p>But I’m unsettled by the notion of entire university communities being motivated by fear to take up arms. I also wonder how people will react to black students, staff, and faculty who choose to arm themselves. It’s clear not everyone is so keen on black folks using guns for self defense. I’m mindful of Marissa Alexander, a black woman who fired a warning shot in her own garage to ward off an attack from her abusive ex-husband. That shot – which injured no one – earned her a <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fla-mom-gets-20-years-for-firing-warning-shots/" type="external">20-year jail sentence</a> in Florida, a state that allows people to “stand their ground” when they cannot escape imminent threat.</p>
<p>The lesson I took from her case? Black women do not enjoy the same privilege of self defense as others.</p>
<p>While I remain ambivalent about guns, I fear that gun violence on campus isn’t a matter of what if. It’s a matter of when.</p>
<p>Earlier this semester, I thought that day had come.</p>
<p>I’d stepped out of my office for a moment, and when I returned, a student I’d never seen before was perched in one of my chairs. She was a waif with lavender hair and headphones shaped like cat’s ears looped around her neck.</p>
<p>“Dr. Clark?” she said.</p>
<p>Her eyes struck me immediately. I can’t recall their color, but I remember the jolt of panic I felt when I noticed that her pupils were huge. Dilated. At 8 in the morning.</p>
<p>“I’ve read about your work, and I wanted to ask you some questions,” she said.</p>
<p>She wanted to talk about “what the black community wants,” and the protests linked to Black Lives Matter.</p>
<p>I felt the familiar heart palpitations I’d had during my days as a newspaper columnist, when readers from God-knows-where would call and offer their critiques sweetly enough, only to devolve into screaming and swearing, threatening to stop me from writing about all that “black shit.”</p>
<p>Any time a stranger — from any background — seeks to engage me about my positions of black existence, I am on guard and prepared to defend myself.</p>
<p>I invited her to sit down.</p>
<p>She was hard to follow. At one point she asked me about racial inequalities then offered her thoughts before I could answer her question.</p>
<p>I began to worry that this young, erratic woman might become violent, and I scanned the room to see what I could grab to defend myself. A picture frame? My computer monitor? Then I felt silly. I was twice her size, but fear of what could happen kept me on edge. As I sat, cornered in my own office, I realized that I’d never been so glad to be unarmed. If I were, I’d have had one hand on my gun.</p>
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<p>When she finally left, I felt relief, then a flood of guilt. Had I been carrying a weapon, and had she made too sudden a move, what would have happened? I am still unsure of her motivation for seeking me out, but it seems likely she was simply a confused young woman, under the influence of drugs. If I’d had a gun, I might have overreacted that day, brandishing it out of a heightened sense of fear. I might have caused irreparable harm, even if I never fired a shot.</p>
<p>And that’s what frightens me most.</p>
<p>[Photo: Flickr user <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/hellamike81/17519145842/" type="external">Mike Rastiello</a>]</p>
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return university north texas fall semester ill way knowing carrying firearm august 1 students faculty staff concealed weapon permits may carry guns public university campuses law approved last year im black female professor working texas town prominent confederate memorial teach journalism courses spark debate race gender nationality serious reservations campus carry proponents new law claim people armed institutions higher learning safer days signed bill governor greg abbott declared wouldbe shooters texas would understand somebody going watching ability something open fire college campus dont feel safer idea working environment anyone may gun makes feel perpetually threat im afraid accidents mostly also misplaced anger emotional distress im afraid situations occur every day college campuses like classroom debate office visit grades escalate deadly shooting mother wants quit friends send job ads states highprofile academics160 including university texas dean professor emeritus already made public show leaving job market makes hard consider leaving first tenuretrack position even guns still technically banned campus often show campus crime reports would naive think incidents wont increase permit holders legally bring guns campus absolutely clear antigun never touched firearm though ive long interested obtaining license carry one live alone im often road tool would allow extra measure protection attractive ive also considered carrying gun matter liberation kind preached black militants like malcolm x fred hampton advocated gun ownership means protecting black bodies like mine types threats im unsettled notion entire university communities motivated fear take arms also wonder people react black students staff faculty choose arm clear everyone keen black folks using guns self defense im mindful marissa alexander black woman fired warning shot garage ward attack abusive exhusband shot injured one earned 20year jail sentence florida state allows people stand ground escape imminent threat lesson took case black women enjoy privilege self defense others remain ambivalent guns fear gun violence campus isnt matter matter earlier semester thought day come id stepped office moment returned student id never seen perched one chairs waif lavender hair headphones shaped like cats ears looped around neck dr clark said eyes struck immediately cant recall color remember jolt panic felt noticed pupils huge dilated 8 morning ive read work wanted ask questions said wanted talk black community wants protests linked black lives matter felt familiar heart palpitations id days newspaper columnist readers godknowswhere would call offer critiques sweetly enough devolve screaming swearing threatening stop writing black shit time stranger background seeks engage positions black existence guard prepared defend invited sit hard follow one point asked racial inequalities offered thoughts could answer question began worry young erratic woman might become violent scanned room see could grab defend picture frame computer monitor felt silly twice size fear could happen kept edge sat cornered office realized id never glad unarmed id one hand gun subscribe receive traces newsletters important gun news analysis finally left felt relief flood guilt carrying weapon made sudden move would happened still unsure motivation seeking seems likely simply confused young woman influence drugs id gun might overreacted day brandishing heightened sense fear might caused irreparable harm even never fired shot thats frightens photo flickr user mike rastiello
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<p>Last school year, Chief Executive Officer Paul Vallas talked of mandating Direct Instruction (DI), a scripted, phonics-based reading program. His unofficial word spread through the Chicago Public Schools like the flu. Now the official word is out: low-performing elementary schools are “strongly encouraged,” not required, to adopt DI. But that queasy feeling hasn’t subsided, and the controversy won’t die down.</p>
<p>Critique of Direct Instruction</p>
<p>In April, the Chicago Metropolitan Association for the Education of Young Children, fired off a letter to Vallas stating that DISTAR’s “rote learning” went against the teaching practices recommended by major professional organizations. (DI is short for DISTAR, which originally stood for Direct Instruction System for Teaching Arithmetic and Reading.) In June, Parents United for Responsible Education surveyed Chicago preschools to see whether they had been asked to adopt DI, which some educators deem especially inappropriate for preschoolers.</p>
<p>“It’s like, they’re poor, so they can’t learn the same way middle-class kids learn,” contends Barbara Bowman, president of the Erikson Institute for Advanced Study in Child Development. Just look up north, she says, “Winnetka ain’t using DISTAR.”</p>
<p>All the furor has left Chief Education Officer Lynn St. James dumbfounded. Last year the School Reform Board of Trustees gave the Personalized Curriculum Institute of Malcolm X College a $924,000 contract to help schools on the state’s academic watch list set up DI programs. The board also contracted with nine other service providers, including progressive models. Of the 10, only DI has a history of success and a solid research base, says St. James. “So why, why the intensive scrutiny? Why? I don’t know why.”</p>
<p>Pershing Road shouldn’t have been surprised. DI has been around since 1968 and awash in controversy all the while.</p>
<p>“It’s rote, it’s memorization, it’s not good solid practice,” says Karen Smith, associate director of the National Council of Teachers of English. “It goes against everything we think.”</p>
<p>“It’s extremely authoritarian,” observes Larry Schweinhart of the highly regarded High Scope/Perry Research Project in Ypsilanti, Mich., and can lead children to “dependency on adults and resentment.”</p>
<p>The California State Board of Education excluded DISTAR from its 1988 list of approved reading programs on the grounds that its stories in the early levels had no literary merit. More recently, the California board has called for more teaching of phonics though not specifically DISTAR.</p>
<p>Initial interest in DI waned in the early 1970s as more experiential, progressive approaches gained momentum. But now DI is on the rebound. To some, it looks like another swing of the pendulum.</p>
<p>“We’re living in conservative times,” says Sharon Murphy, president of the Whole Language Umbrella, an international organization of groups employing the progressive whole-language approach. She attributes DI’s rising popularity to “pressure to go back to a highly, highly controlled education system.”</p>
<p>DI does indeed have that back-to-basics appeal. Principal Thaddeus Lott of Wesley Elementary in Houston, Tex.—a nationally celebrated DI site— lectures on his success to enthusiastic crowds of Christian fundamentalists. “It’s nothin’ but old-time teachin’ in a box,” says Lott.</p>
<p>How does the brain work?</p>
<p>So, is this then essentially a political battle—forward-thinking progressives vs. skill-and-drill conservatives? Somewhat, but not entirely. At the heart of the DI controversy lies a far greyer matter—the human brain.</p>
<p>On each side, learned theorists hold fundamentally different ideas about how the human brain operates. Their debate centers on the answer to this question: How do we best learn knowledge and skills?</p>
<p>Let’s look at two camps of psychologists who have influenced opinions on this matter: behaviorists and cognitive psychologists.</p>
<p>Here’s what behaviorists believe: (1) Learning is defined as a change in behavior. (2) A trainer can change anyone’s behavior by leading them through a given set of activities. (3) The proper activities can be identified by measuring the response of the learner at each step along the way and making appropriate adjustments.</p>
<p>Cognitive psychologists, on the other hand, approach learning from the inside out. They believe: (1) Learning takes place as the nerve cells of the brain process information. (2) Brain “wiring” varies to some degree from person to person, which means that the learning process is somewhat different for each person. (3) The challenge for a teacher is to pick the activity that best matches the needs of an individual child.</p>
<p>Gardner’s multiple intelligences</p>
<p>In the early 1980s, these ideas were further refined by a group of cognitive psychologists at Harvard University, lead by Howard Gardner. Research had revealed that damage to a specific area of the brain could destroy one ability while sparing others. Based on this finding, Gardner proposed seven distinct “intelligences” (e.g., logical-mathematical, linguistic, musical, bodily-kinesthetic), each located in its own region of the brain. Gardner chose the word “intelligences” to inspire more respect for what are usually termed skills, abilities or talents.</p>
<p>In Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, your potential to excel at a given skill depends upon the brain wiring you inherited. In his view, the reason many children do poorly in school is that instruction traditionally has focused only on linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligences (i.e. skills measured by pencil-and-paper tests). To reach more children, he says, classrooms must be set up to nurture more skills.</p>
<p>Even Gardner was surprised at how fast the education community snatched up his theory. Educators “knew the idea behind Gardner’s intelligences intuitively, that children are wired somewhat differently,” says Bowman of the Erikson Institute.</p>
<p>Learning styles, developmental stages, etc.</p>
<p>There are a few other ideas about the brain and learning that have contributed to progressive education:</p>
<p>Learning styles. Akin to Gardner’s intelligences, learning styles are the ways people most readily acquire knowledge. There are many styles, but the ones educators most commonly refer to are auditory (remembering what you hear), visual (remembering what you see) and kinesthetic (remembering what you touch).</p>
<p>Developmental stages. Children’s brains develop in stages, which determine what kind of learning they are ready for. According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, some children may not be ready to read until the age of 9.</p>
<p>Prior knowledge. Humans construct knowledge by actively selecting information and connecting it with what they already know.</p>
<p>Connectedness. A concept is stored in a particular part of the brain around which related facts are linked. Unrelated facts are “unlinked” and less easily remembered.</p>
<p>Meaning-based learning</p>
<p>If you’re a progressive educator, here’s how you tie it all together: Start with a theme or topic, such as rainforests, and identify key concepts children should learn. Find out what children already know about the theme and what they want to know. Allow them to choose readings to answer their questions. Link new information with their prior knowledge. Weave in all areas of the curriculum, including math, science and the arts. Finally, assess children’s knowledge “authentically” through projects, plays, writing and other activities that give all seven intelligences a chance to shine.</p>
<p>In the area of reading, progressive educators start children with authentic literature, not phonics. Isolated letter sounds are like unrelated facts, they reason, and children will not retain them.</p>
<p>First, you read to children. Then they “read” back to you, telling the story from the pictures. Next, you provide small books with repetitive phrases children can easily memorize. As they “read” these stories, they become more familiar with certain words and learn to recognize them on sight. Gradually, they begin to notice individual letters. Now it’s time for more formal instruction.</p>
<p>Because you have a variety of learning styles, intelligences and developmental levels in your class, you cannot teach reading the same way to all children. One approach will not work for all children. Rather, you provide children with a variety of strategies and let them choose those that work best for them. Some teachers even provide sandpaper letters for children to feel.</p>
<p>Contrary to popular opinion, whole language teachers do teach phonics. But they don’t march children through a particular order of sounds. Mindful of learning styles and intelligences, they use a variety of methods, too, including games, music, drawing and rhymes. Students having difficulty with particular letter sounds may receive brief lessons, either individually or in small groups.</p>
<p>In other words, children get direct instruction. Yes, whole language teachers use direct instruction—the kind with a small “d” and a small “i.” They would like you to remember that.</p>
<p>DI in theory</p>
<p>DISTAR (DI for short) developed in a whole different fashion. Founder Siegfried (Ziggy) Engelmann started with a behaviorist idea—-that the effectiveness of a teaching strategy can be measured by changes (or lack of changes) in behavior. In his view, when kids fail to learn, it has nothing to do with brain wiring. Rather, the instruction was unclear or poorly organized. His goal was to design a program that was clear enough to teach any beginning learner.</p>
<p>He focused on skills most useful for school success, what Gardner would term linguistic and logical/mathematical intelligences. Thus, to many progressives, DI seems an extreme version of the traditional classroom where some children are bound to fail.</p>
<p>In 1964, Engelmann and his colleagues, then based at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, set out to design a reading program for disadvantaged preschoolers. Their premise: The underdeveloped language skills many poor children bring to school can make learning to read difficult—if not impossible.</p>
<p>As a first step, the researchers identified the skills and concepts needed for reading and which of those this group of children lacked. From that point, their approach was straightforward. (A) Start from where they are. (B) Look at where you want them to end up. (C) Find the shortest route from A to B.</p>
<p>Finding that route was a process of trial and error. If students failed to learn from a particular lesson, it meant either that they needed to be taught a more basic skill or concept first or that the teacher’s communication had been unclear.</p>
<p>“We let the kids teach us,” says Engelmann, now in Eugene, Ore. “We let them show us by the mistakes that they made what we screwed up on when we tried to teach it.”</p>
<p>Every year through 1967, the researchers worked in Urbana with twenty 4-year olds and twenty 5-year olds, designing language, reading and math programs. The reading series has been revised five times since then, and field tested each time with both low- and middle-income children in two to 20 classrooms. Every lesson was tape recorded, every classroom monitored, and every misread word tallied—all to see where the instruction had failed.</p>
<p>DI in action</p>
<p>The mistakes children made during the field testing determined the sequencing of skills: Letter sounds are introduced before students see them on the page. Children practice a word for several lessons before they see it in a story. Comprehension questions build from literal meaning in the first two levels of the program to literary interpretation in the sixth, and final, level.</p>
<p>In Engelmann’s view, developing any skill is simply a matter of good training and practice. Recent research by behavior analysts supports this claim. One study demonstrated that the difference in performance levels (among chess players and musicians, for example) correlated with the number of hours they spent on concentrated practice, and was not due to inborn talent.</p>
<p>Generally, the early levels of DI reading and language teach less content knowledge than the early years of whole language. Rather, they concentrate on mastering skills (reading, sentence patterns, logical thinking) that the developers believe will allow students to absorb more information from textbooks later on.</p>
<p>DI does teach some concepts (e.g., tools and vehicles). As in a progressive classroom, one concept is linked to another for better comprehension and retention. Unlike progressive strategies, however, DI does not aim to address individual differences in children. The goal for DI developers is to communicate clearly enough to prevent any student from misunderstanding.</p>
<p>Engelmann gives a simple example: A teacher wants students to learn the concept “red.” She puts three red triangles on the felt board. Here are the possible interpretations: red is red; red is triangles; red is only red triangles (not squares); red is triangles on the feltboard; red is anything on the felt board. Without further examples of what red is and is not, many students would—quite reasonably—pick up a wrong interpretation.</p>
<p>“What they learn is entirely consistent with what you teach,” he says. “It’s not that they have funny heads. It’s that you’re a funny teacher.”</p>
<p>By the way, Englemann and his colleagues in Oregon are amused at the notion that they’re political conservatives.</p>
<p>“Everybody here’s a Democrat,” reports Prof. Douglas Carnine, himself a 1960’s anti-war activist. “Yup, marched on the Pentagon, all that stuff.”</p>
<p>“It was a liberal group who started all this,” confirms DI developer Jerry Silbert, currently with the Chicago DI project. “Ziggy rides a motorcycle to work, and he’s 64.”</p>
<p>Variety of strategies</p>
<p>Just as DI advocates and progressive educators have two entirely different views of how children learn, they also hold contrary beliefs about the role of the teacher.</p>
<p>“We don’t have an approach,” explains Patricia Horsch of the Erikson Institute, “we have a philosophy.” Erikson works with schools to set up thematic units that integrate all curriculum areas, and provides teachers with a variety of strategies to try in their classrooms.</p>
<p>Whole language is essentially a grassroots movement. Teachers innovate methods based on a common philosophy and spread them through workshops and professional literature.</p>
<p>Since children’s intelligences, styles, and developmental levels vary, teachers need to become skilled at accurately matching strategies with individual children.</p>
<p>“You don’t have to be doing statistical tables or longitudinal studies” to show what teaching methods work, according to Marie Donovan of Erikson. “We teach teachers how to research their own practices, to ask themselves, Is this working? Why or why not?”</p>
<p>“DI is short-circuiting efforts to come up with innovative programs,” she says.</p>
<p>For DI developers, the bottom line is identifying specific procedures that lead to measurable results. “Its not about innovation, it’s about the kids learning,” argues Joe Layng, DI project manager at Malcolm X College. “Who cares if it’s new if it doesn’t work?”</p>
<p>DI proponents often speak of their programs as a “technology.” Teachers should have access to technology, they argue, the same way other professionals do: You wouldn’t expect a doctor to build an X-ray machine or a CAT-scan, would you?</p>
<p>Emphasis on early years</p>
<p>Despite the differences, both camps share one view: Classroom reforms are most crucial in the preschool and primary grades.</p>
<p>“There’s a myth that all kids enter 1st grade at the beginning of 1st-grade level,” says Layng. “Kids are coming in a year or two behind at 1st grade.”</p>
<p>Efficient teaching can catch kids up, he believes. As children see their skills develop rapidly, he adds, they’ll be motivated to keep on learning.</p>
<p>For the progressives, children need early experiences with content-rich curriculum that relates to their personal interests. “Their interest is as important as their skills,” Bowman contends. Poor kids will always be disadvantaged, she says, “unless they get turned on to intellectual activity.”</p>
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last school year chief executive officer paul vallas talked mandating direct instruction di scripted phonicsbased reading program unofficial word spread chicago public schools like flu official word lowperforming elementary schools strongly encouraged required adopt di queasy feeling hasnt subsided controversy wont die critique direct instruction april chicago metropolitan association education young children fired letter vallas stating distars rote learning went teaching practices recommended major professional organizations di short distar originally stood direct instruction system teaching arithmetic reading june parents united responsible education surveyed chicago preschools see whether asked adopt di educators deem especially inappropriate preschoolers like theyre poor cant learn way middleclass kids learn contends barbara bowman president erikson institute advanced study child development look north says winnetka aint using distar furor left chief education officer lynn st james dumbfounded last year school reform board trustees gave personalized curriculum institute malcolm x college 924000 contract help schools states academic watch list set di programs board also contracted nine service providers including progressive models 10 di history success solid research base says st james intensive scrutiny dont know pershing road shouldnt surprised di around since 1968 awash controversy rote memorization good solid practice says karen smith associate director national council teachers english goes everything think extremely authoritarian observes larry schweinhart highly regarded high scopeperry research project ypsilanti mich lead children dependency adults resentment california state board education excluded distar 1988 list approved reading programs grounds stories early levels literary merit recently california board called teaching phonics though specifically distar initial interest di waned early 1970s experiential progressive approaches gained momentum di rebound looks like another swing pendulum living conservative times says sharon murphy president whole language umbrella international organization groups employing progressive wholelanguage approach attributes dis rising popularity pressure go back highly highly controlled education system di indeed backtobasics appeal principal thaddeus lott wesley elementary houston texa nationally celebrated di site lectures success enthusiastic crowds christian fundamentalists nothin oldtime teachin box says lott brain work essentially political battleforwardthinking progressives vs skillanddrill conservatives somewhat entirely heart di controversy lies far greyer matterthe human brain side learned theorists hold fundamentally different ideas human brain operates debate centers answer question best learn knowledge skills lets look two camps psychologists influenced opinions matter behaviorists cognitive psychologists heres behaviorists believe 1 learning defined change behavior 2 trainer change anyones behavior leading given set activities 3 proper activities identified measuring response learner step along way making appropriate adjustments cognitive psychologists hand approach learning inside believe 1 learning takes place nerve cells brain process information 2 brain wiring varies degree person person means learning process somewhat different person 3 challenge teacher pick activity best matches needs individual child gardners multiple intelligences early 1980s ideas refined group cognitive psychologists harvard university lead howard gardner research revealed damage specific area brain could destroy one ability sparing others based finding gardner proposed seven distinct intelligences eg logicalmathematical linguistic musical bodilykinesthetic located region brain gardner chose word intelligences inspire respect usually termed skills abilities talents gardners theory multiple intelligences potential excel given skill depends upon brain wiring inherited view reason many children poorly school instruction traditionally focused linguistic logicalmathematical intelligences ie skills measured pencilandpaper tests reach children says classrooms must set nurture skills even gardner surprised fast education community snatched theory educators knew idea behind gardners intelligences intuitively children wired somewhat differently says bowman erikson institute learning styles developmental stages etc ideas brain learning contributed progressive education learning styles akin gardners intelligences learning styles ways people readily acquire knowledge many styles ones educators commonly refer auditory remembering hear visual remembering see kinesthetic remembering touch developmental stages childrens brains develop stages determine kind learning ready according national association education young children children may ready read age 9 prior knowledge humans construct knowledge actively selecting information connecting already know connectedness concept stored particular part brain around related facts linked unrelated facts unlinked less easily remembered meaningbased learning youre progressive educator heres tie together start theme topic rainforests identify key concepts children learn find children already know theme want know allow choose readings answer questions link new information prior knowledge weave areas curriculum including math science arts finally assess childrens knowledge authentically projects plays writing activities give seven intelligences chance shine area reading progressive educators start children authentic literature phonics isolated letter sounds like unrelated facts reason children retain first read children read back telling story pictures next provide small books repetitive phrases children easily memorize read stories become familiar certain words learn recognize sight gradually begin notice individual letters time formal instruction variety learning styles intelligences developmental levels class teach reading way children one approach work children rather provide children variety strategies let choose work best teachers even provide sandpaper letters children feel contrary popular opinion whole language teachers teach phonics dont march children particular order sounds mindful learning styles intelligences use variety methods including games music drawing rhymes students difficulty particular letter sounds may receive brief lessons either individually small groups words children get direct instruction yes whole language teachers use direct instructionthe kind small small would like remember di theory distar di short developed whole different fashion founder siegfried ziggy engelmann started behaviorist ideathat effectiveness teaching strategy measured changes lack changes behavior view kids fail learn nothing brain wiring rather instruction unclear poorly organized goal design program clear enough teach beginning learner focused skills useful school success gardner would term linguistic logicalmathematical intelligences thus many progressives di seems extreme version traditional classroom children bound fail 1964 engelmann colleagues based university illinois champaignurbana set design reading program disadvantaged preschoolers premise underdeveloped language skills many poor children bring school make learning read difficultif impossible first step researchers identified skills concepts needed reading group children lacked point approach straightforward start b look want end c find shortest route b finding route process trial error students failed learn particular lesson meant either needed taught basic skill concept first teachers communication unclear let kids teach us says engelmann eugene ore let show us mistakes made screwed tried teach every year 1967 researchers worked urbana twenty 4year olds twenty 5year olds designing language reading math programs reading series revised five times since field tested time low middleincome children two 20 classrooms every lesson tape recorded every classroom monitored every misread word talliedall see instruction failed di action mistakes children made field testing determined sequencing skills letter sounds introduced students see page children practice word several lessons see story comprehension questions build literal meaning first two levels program literary interpretation sixth final level engelmanns view developing skill simply matter good training practice recent research behavior analysts supports claim one study demonstrated difference performance levels among chess players musicians example correlated number hours spent concentrated practice due inborn talent generally early levels di reading language teach less content knowledge early years whole language rather concentrate mastering skills reading sentence patterns logical thinking developers believe allow students absorb information textbooks later di teach concepts eg tools vehicles progressive classroom one concept linked another better comprehension retention unlike progressive strategies however di aim address individual differences children goal di developers communicate clearly enough prevent student misunderstanding engelmann gives simple example teacher wants students learn concept red puts three red triangles felt board possible interpretations red red red triangles red red triangles squares red triangles feltboard red anything felt board without examples red many students wouldquite reasonablypick wrong interpretation learn entirely consistent teach says funny heads youre funny teacher way englemann colleagues oregon amused notion theyre political conservatives everybody heres democrat reports prof douglas carnine 1960s antiwar activist yup marched pentagon stuff liberal group started confirms di developer jerry silbert currently chicago di project ziggy rides motorcycle work hes 64 variety strategies di advocates progressive educators two entirely different views children learn also hold contrary beliefs role teacher dont approach explains patricia horsch erikson institute philosophy erikson works schools set thematic units integrate curriculum areas provides teachers variety strategies try classrooms whole language essentially grassroots movement teachers innovate methods based common philosophy spread workshops professional literature since childrens intelligences styles developmental levels vary teachers need become skilled accurately matching strategies individual children dont statistical tables longitudinal studies show teaching methods work according marie donovan erikson teach teachers research practices ask working di shortcircuiting efforts come innovative programs says di developers bottom line identifying specific procedures lead measurable results innovation kids learning argues joe layng di project manager malcolm x college cares new doesnt work di proponents often speak programs technology teachers access technology argue way professionals wouldnt expect doctor build xray machine catscan would emphasis early years despite differences camps share one view classroom reforms crucial preschool primary grades theres myth kids enter 1st grade beginning 1stgrade level says layng kids coming year two behind 1st grade efficient teaching catch kids believes children see skills develop rapidly adds theyll motivated keep learning progressives children need early experiences contentrich curriculum relates personal interests interest important skills bowman contends poor kids always disadvantaged says unless get turned intellectual activity
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<p>DEC. 15, 2010</p>
<p>By ANTHONY PIGNATARO</p>
<p>The stakes have never been higher. Since 2008, despite its requirement for a balanced budget, California has been wrestling with budget deficits between $11 billion and $25 billion. In November, the non-partisan <a href="http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/main.aspx" type="external">Legislative Analyst’s Office</a> (LAO) released a <a href="http://www.lao.ca.gov/laoapp/PubDetails.aspx?id=2365" type="external">report</a>predicting budget deficits in excess of $20 billion through fiscal year 2015-2016. Unfunded pension liabilities stand somewhere between a ghastly $100 billion and a cartoonish half a trillion dollars.</p>
<p>Enter Gov.-elect <a href="http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Jerry_Brown" type="external">Jerry Brown</a>. Pledging to “ensure that money is spent carefully and that state government is operated as efficiently as possible,” Brown hosted the first of three budget forums last week to put everyone on the same page, so to speak, where California’s fiscal shambles are concerned. He also made two decisions that seem to contradict each other. The first was to denounce $66 billion in budget “solutions” – budgetary gimmicks like the $1.2 billion “sale-leaseback” deal pushed by the Schwarzenegger administration and derided by both the LAO and Treasurer <a href="http://yubanet.com/california/Treasurer-Lockyer-Statement-on-State-Building-Sale-Leaseback.php" type="external">Bill Lockyer</a> – that over the past few years have “made the future deficit worse.” The second was to appoint Ana Matosantos, Schwarzenegger’s Director of Finance, to be his own.</p>
<p>While it’s far too early to predict how the Brown Administration will deal with the state’s systemic budget deficit, the appointment of Matosantos – who has worked in the state <a href="http://www.dof.ca.gov/" type="external">finance department</a> since April 2008 – raises all sorts of questions. Most notably: how can Brown promise to “reform” a budgetary process by hiring one of that process’s most important bureaucrats?</p>
<p>“The new Brown administration is the old Schwarzenegger Administration,” said one Assembly Republican staffer. “I have a feeling he’s tapping Schwarzenegger’s folks because they have been good at going out and creating a panic to raise taxes.”</p>
<p>Matosantos, a Democrat, is a native of Puerto Rico. She holds just a bachelor’s degree in political science from Stanford University. She first went to work in state government in 1999, as a 24-year-old consultant to the state Senate Committees on Health and Human Services as well as Budget and Fiscal Review. In 2004 she moved to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Program and Fiscal Affairs, where she worked as assistant secretary. Two years later she took over as associate secretary of legislative affairs for HHS – a job that paid $106,800.</p>
<p>From there Matosantos’ rise was meteoric. In 2007 she became Gov. <a href="http://www.ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Arnold_Schwarzenegger" type="external">Arnold Schwarzenegger</a>’s deputy legislative secretary. A year later she was promoted to deputy director of the finance department. She held that job for two years, then moved to the role of director – which pays $175,000 a year – in May of this year.</p>
<p>It was quite an achievement for someone barely 35. Indeed, her youth seems to cause her some measure of grief. During a discussion of Proposition 13 at the Dec. 8 budget forum in Sacramento, newly-elected Assembly Minority Leader <a href="http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Connie_Conway" type="external">Connie Conway</a>, R-Tulare, joked that some people on the stage weren’t even around when Prop. 13 passed. It was a half-dig clearly aimed at Matosantos, who responded by cooling launching into a detailed examination of Prop. 13’s effects on the state.</p>
<p>Matosantos’ job has never been easy – a fact acknowledged by Schwarzenegger when he first appointed her (officials with Brown’s transition office rebuffed repeated requests to interview Matosantos, who resigned her post as Finance Director on Dec. 7 to work full time with the incoming governor’s transition office).</p>
<p>“In the coming year, our state will have to make incredibly challenging and tough budget decisions, and Ana has the knowledge and expertise necessary to guide my administration through that decision-making process,” Schwarzenegger said back in December 2009 when he nominated Matosantos to be finance director. “With an extensive history in state finances, she has been a tremendous asset as a member of my staff and to the people of this great state and I look forward to continue working with her, as California’s first Latina director of the Department of Finance, to move California forward.”</p>
<p>That Matosantos’ finance experience was “extensive,” either in 2009 or even today, is debatable. But she has plenty of fans in the state Legislature.</p>
<p>“We can neither cut nor tax our way to prosperity,” said Sen. <a href="http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Sam_Blakeslee" type="external">Sam Blakeslee</a>, R-San Luis Obispo. “Larger systemic reforms are needed to fix the structural budget deficit. Having sat with Ana in Big Five negotiations, it is evident that she is exceedingly bright and understands the enormity of the challenges we face. But I also believe that she is sufficiently open-minded to consider the type of large scale reform that will be needed to move past this crisis.”</p>
<p>One legislative staffer compared Matosantos favorably to her predecessor, to a point.</p>
<p>“Matosantos is a very bright and thorough bureaucrat,” said one Assembly Republican staffer. “I’ve watched her for many years in general finance. Whatever she’s given, she knows it down to the nut. But how can she deal with $20 billion deficits? [Former Finance Director] Mike Genest was creative. But these days, maybe creativity is dangerous.”</p>
<p>That gets to the heart of the trouble with Brown’s (re)hiring of Matosantos. Even by Schwarzenegger’s own rhetoric, Matosantos failed to help “move California forward.”</p>
<p>The structural budget deficits plaguing California’s state government aren’t mere figments of accounting. They raise serious doubts about the state’s ability to maintain its infrastructure, to say nothing of paying future pension benefits for public employees.</p>
<p>“Unless plans are put in place to begin tackling the ongoing budget problem, it will continue to be difficult for the state to address massive retirement liabilities, maintaining service levels of high-priority government programs, and improving the state’s tax system,” the LAO reported in November.</p>
<p>That budget deficits have gotten worse during the course of Matosantos’ tenure at the Department of Finance is undeniable. What’s more, it remains unseen how Matosantos would deal with Brown, who comes to office with a strikingly different agenda than Schwarzenegger.</p>
<p>For instance, ever since the brutal defeat of his 2008 special election proposals to erase the deficit with borrowed money and tax hikes, Schwarzenegger has been uncompromising on the issue of further tax hikes. He’s also advocated massive cuts in social spending, including the wholesale elimination of <a href="http://www.cdss.ca.gov/calworks/default.htm" type="external">CalWorks</a>, which provides job and financial assistance to poor familes. What, if any, spending cuts Brown may propose are impossible to say right now, but most observers see him at least trying to get voter approval for some kind of tax hike.</p>
<p>“Brown seems set on getting a real budget, with or without taxes,” said one staffer with the state Board of Equalization. “I think he’ll try to raise taxes, but not until he’s inflicted real pain. He has to inflict real pain on large numbers of people this year to be credible. I’m not for tax increases, but he’s a lot more credible on this than Arnold Schwarzenegger is right now.”</p>
<p>Credibility aside, it’s hard to imagine how even Brown – certainly a master politician – could scare enough voters into approving increased taxes. According to the March 2010 report <a href="http://www.pacificresearch.org/publications/taxifornia" type="external">Taxifornia</a>, put out by <a href="http://www.pacificresearch.org/" type="external">Pacific Research Institute</a>(CalWatchdog’s parent organization), California “imposes the fourth-largest burden of government among the states.”</p>
<p>“Here’s my theory,” said the Republican Assembly staffer. “Brown keeps Schwarzenegger’s people, and makes them work scaring everyone on the need to raise taxes. This goes to a vote, but then the citizens say no way, and then Brown cleans house.”</p>
| false | 3 |
dec 15 2010 anthony pignataro stakes never higher since 2008 despite requirement balanced budget california wrestling budget deficits 11 billion 25 billion november nonpartisan legislative analysts office lao released reportpredicting budget deficits excess 20 billion fiscal year 20152016 unfunded pension liabilities stand somewhere ghastly 100 billion cartoonish half trillion dollars enter govelect jerry brown pledging ensure money spent carefully state government operated efficiently possible brown hosted first three budget forums last week put everyone page speak californias fiscal shambles concerned also made two decisions seem contradict first denounce 66 billion budget solutions budgetary gimmicks like 12 billion saleleaseback deal pushed schwarzenegger administration derided lao treasurer bill lockyer past years made future deficit worse second appoint ana matosantos schwarzeneggers director finance far early predict brown administration deal states systemic budget deficit appointment matosantos worked state finance department since april 2008 raises sorts questions notably brown promise reform budgetary process hiring one processs important bureaucrats new brown administration old schwarzenegger administration said one assembly republican staffer feeling hes tapping schwarzeneggers folks good going creating panic raise taxes matosantos democrat native puerto rico holds bachelors degree political science stanford university first went work state government 1999 24yearold consultant state senate committees health human services well budget fiscal review 2004 moved department health human services hhs office program fiscal affairs worked assistant secretary two years later took associate secretary legislative affairs hhs job paid 106800 matosantos rise meteoric 2007 became gov arnold schwarzeneggers deputy legislative secretary year later promoted deputy director finance department held job two years moved role director pays 175000 year may year quite achievement someone barely 35 indeed youth seems cause measure grief discussion proposition 13 dec 8 budget forum sacramento newlyelected assembly minority leader connie conway rtulare joked people stage werent even around prop 13 passed halfdig clearly aimed matosantos responded cooling launching detailed examination prop 13s effects state matosantos job never easy fact acknowledged schwarzenegger first appointed officials browns transition office rebuffed repeated requests interview matosantos resigned post finance director dec 7 work full time incoming governors transition office coming year state make incredibly challenging tough budget decisions ana knowledge expertise necessary guide administration decisionmaking process schwarzenegger said back december 2009 nominated matosantos finance director extensive history state finances tremendous asset member staff people great state look forward continue working californias first latina director department finance move california forward matosantos finance experience extensive either 2009 even today debatable plenty fans state legislature neither cut tax way prosperity said sen sam blakeslee rsan luis obispo larger systemic reforms needed fix structural budget deficit sat ana big five negotiations evident exceedingly bright understands enormity challenges face also believe sufficiently openminded consider type large scale reform needed move past crisis one legislative staffer compared matosantos favorably predecessor point matosantos bright thorough bureaucrat said one assembly republican staffer ive watched many years general finance whatever shes given knows nut deal 20 billion deficits former finance director mike genest creative days maybe creativity dangerous gets heart trouble browns rehiring matosantos even schwarzeneggers rhetoric matosantos failed help move california forward structural budget deficits plaguing californias state government arent mere figments accounting raise serious doubts states ability maintain infrastructure say nothing paying future pension benefits public employees unless plans put place begin tackling ongoing budget problem continue difficult state address massive retirement liabilities maintaining service levels highpriority government programs improving states tax system lao reported november budget deficits gotten worse course matosantos tenure department finance undeniable whats remains unseen matosantos would deal brown comes office strikingly different agenda schwarzenegger instance ever since brutal defeat 2008 special election proposals erase deficit borrowed money tax hikes schwarzenegger uncompromising issue tax hikes hes also advocated massive cuts social spending including wholesale elimination calworks provides job financial assistance poor familes spending cuts brown may propose impossible say right observers see least trying get voter approval kind tax hike brown seems set getting real budget without taxes said one staffer state board equalization think hell try raise taxes hes inflicted real pain inflict real pain large numbers people year credible im tax increases hes lot credible arnold schwarzenegger right credibility aside hard imagine even brown certainly master politician could scare enough voters approving increased taxes according march 2010 report taxifornia put pacific research institutecalwatchdogs parent organization california imposes fourthlargest burden government among states heres theory said republican assembly staffer brown keeps schwarzeneggers people makes work scaring everyone need raise taxes goes vote citizens say way brown cleans house
| 737 |
<p>OBAMA AGENDA: Declaring victory</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/02/us/politics/obama-to-report-on-progress-of-health-care-law.html?hp" type="external">The New York Times’ health care lede</a>: "President Obama declared victory Tuesday in the government’s aggressive push to enroll seven million people in private health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act, even as his senior aides braced for an escalated political battle over the law ahead of the fall’s crucial midterm elections."</p>
<p>Millions of newly insured Americans aren't counted in the 7.1 million announced by the White House Tuesday because they enrolled directly through their own insurance provider. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/02/business/newly-insured-but-not-counted-by-the-insurance-exchanges.html" type="external">The New York Times:</a> "Politicians and policy makers have focused on the number of people who signed up through the exchanges — at nearly seven million and counting a day after the March 31 deadline — but they have largely overlooked the group that did not use the exchanges, even though it could have a major impact on the program’s financial success in the years ahead."</p>
<p><a href="http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/whats-next-obamacare" type="external">The folks over at msnbc.com</a> take a look at what's next for Obamacare.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/04/01/director-insists-secret-service-scandals-absolutely-not-evidence-of-cultural-problem-within-agency/" type="external">The Washington Post:</a> "Repeated scandals involving Secret Service agents are "absolutely not" evidence of a cultural problem within the agency, its Director Julia Pierson said Tuesday."</p>
<p>"The Obama administration's campaign to forge a Middle East peace agreement appeared near collapse Tuesday, despite a U.S. move to negotiate the release of a convicted American spy in a last-gasp effort to win more concessions from Israel," <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304157204579475332656397934?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_6&amp;mg=reno64-wsj" type="external">the Wall Street Journal reports.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes-and-centers/polling-institute/national/release-detail?ReleaseID=2027" type="external">A new Quinnipiac poll</a> shows Obama with negative ratings for his handling of the crisis in Ukraine and a 39-55 grade for his handling of foreign policy overall.</p>
<p>CONGRESS: Battling over Ryan's budget</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">NBC's Frank Thorp and Luke Russert report</a> on Paul Ryan's newly unveiled budget proposal. "The plan, which Ryan says would balance the budget over the course of the decade, would repeal the Affordable Care Act, restructure entitlement programs and reshape food stamp programs into block grants."</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/02/opinion/mr-ryans-faith-based-budget.html?hp&amp;rref=opinion" type="external">The New York Times op-ed page</a> calls Ryan's budget plan "destructive to the country’s future."</p>
<p>It's looking like more gridlock in the Senate over Democrats' minimum wage bill. <a href="http://blogs.rollcall.com/wgdb/unhappy-on-unemployment-extension-gop-may-block-minimum-wage-pay-equity-bills/?dcz=" type="external">Roll Call:</a> "Republicans say they might block consideration of minimum wage and pay equity bills after Senate Democrats moved to block GOP amendments to the unemployment extension bill expected to pass later this week."</p>
<p>"The House on Tuesday passed legislation to provide economic assistance to Ukraine and sanction Russia, sending the package to President Obama a few weeks after Russia formally took control of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula," <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/votes/202368-ukraine-bills-clear-house-head-to-obama" type="external">The Hill reports.</a></p>
<p>After a grilling yesterday, GM CEO Mary Barra's testimony on Capitol Hill will continue today. <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304157204579475300460311892?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_4&amp;mg=reno64-wsj" type="external">The Wall Street Journal:</a> "Ms. Barra faced tough questions on what she and others running GM knew about the decisions made as GM sought to rebuild its sales of compact cars. Many times on Tuesday, she said she didn't know why GM officials had not recalled Chevrolets, Saturns and Pontiacs with faulty ignition switches, saying the answers would come from an internal probe."</p>
<p>Charles Keating Jr. -- of the "Keating Five" scandal -- <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/02/business/charles-keating-key-figure-in-the-1980s-savings-and-loan-crisis-dies-at-90.html?hp" type="external">has died</a> at the age of 90.</p>
<p>The recent forcing of the Medicare reimbursement rate patch through the House has even longtime allies clashing, <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2014/04/dave-camp-john-boehner-105270.html#ixzz2xjFbccYr" type="external">POLITICO writes. "</a>The tension ran so high that Rep. Dave Camp of Michigan, the panel’s typically reserved chairman, late last week laced into Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) during a tense interaction in a closed-door meeting of the tax-writing panel, accusing the Ohio Republican’s staff of being dishonest, multiple Republican sources said."</p>
<p><a href="http://www.kentucky.com/2014/04/01/3173812/mcconnell-paul-introduce-bill.html?sp=/99/322/&amp;ihp=1#storylink=cpy" type="external">The Lexington Herald-Leader:</a> "U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Louisville, and Rand Paul, R-Bowling Green, joined U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., on Tuesday to introduce legislation that they said would "preserve the century-old tradition of the Tennessee walking horse while ending the contemptible practice of the illegal soring of horses."</p>
<p>OFF TO THE RACES: Focusing on Jindal</p>
<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bobby-jindal-with-an-eye-on-2016-to-unveil-plan-to-replace-obama-health-care-law/2014/04/02/623381d2-b9c2-11e3-a397-6debf9e66e65_story.html" type="external">The Washington Post reports</a> that Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal will announce a replacement for the Obama health care law Wednesday, "an effort by the Republican to insert himself into the increasingly competitive early maneuvering for his party’s presidential nomination."</p>
<p>Green Eggs and Ham -- and more green. Sen. Ted Cruz will get an advance of close to $1.5 million for a personal memoir, <a href="http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/2546658#.UzvehMH91mY.twitter" type="external">the Washington Examiner reports</a>. Also, <a href="http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ted-cruz-heads-liberty-u-woo-evangelicals" type="external">the AP previews</a> his appearance at Liberty University today.</p>
<p>D.C.: <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/muriel-bowser-declares-victory-in-dc-mayoral-primary/2014/04/02/7176390e-b5b8-11e3-b899-20667de76985_story.html?hpid=z1" type="external">The Washington Post reports</a> on councilmember Muriel Bowser's big win against incumbent mayor Vincent Gray in Tuesday's primary. "Bowser (D-Ward 4) moved deftly to capitalize on public doubts about Gray’s trustworthiness fueled by the still-unresolved federal corruption investigation into his 2010 campaign. Alone among seven Democratic challengers, she amassed a coalition that crossed demographic and geographic lines allowing her to outpoll Gray’s shrunken but steady base of African American voters."</p>
<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/muriel-bowser-now-the-democratic-nominee-for-mayor-is-a-woman-apart-in-dc-politics/2014/04/01/dfe1bf26-b5b8-11e3-b899-20667de76985_story.html?hpid=z2" type="external">The Post</a> also profiles Bowser, a protege of former mayor Adrian Fenty. "Her reticence and her emotional distance are qualities that might have been a liability at times during the campaign, but her straightforward, drama-free approach to getting things done could be an asset in a city that prizes accomplishment."</p>
<p>In his concession speech, Gray <a href="http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Muriel-Bowser-Vincent-Gray-DC-mayor-race-253481681.html" type="external">slammed the timing of the primary election</a>. "'One thing I have to say, I hope the city will change the date of the primary," Gray said. "This is really poor ... having to run a campaign in winter. Trying to knock on doors in February is hard, it's complex and it's cold.'"</p>
<p>GEORGIA: The super PAC led by Joe Ricketts <a href="http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2014/04/01/it-begins-super-pac-attacks-michelle-nunn-on-obamacare/" type="external">is airing ads</a> against Democratic Senate candidate Michelle Nunn. The theme? Obamacare.</p>
<p>MISSISSIPPI: “Mississippi quietly passed its “religious freedom” law Tuesday, prompting alarm from gay and lesbian rights activists who say it could be used to justify discrimination in the name of religion,” <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/mississippis-religious-freedom-law" type="external">reports Adam Serwer of msnbc.com.</a></p>
<p>NEW HAMPSHIRE: Sen. Scott Brown <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/04/01/scott-brown-stops-by-capitol-hill-for-lunch-with-former-and-future-senate-colleagues/" type="external">stopped by the Capitol</a> Tuesday to see his former (and possibly future) Republican colleagues in the Senate.</p>
<p>PROGRAMMING NOTES.</p>
<p>*** Wednesday’s “The Daily Rundown” line-up: NBC’s Chuck Todd interviews Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), The Wilson Center’s Aaron David Miller, Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, Executive Director of the Working Families Party Dan Cantor and NBC Meteorologist Bill Karins.</p>
<p>*** Wednesday’s “Jansing &amp; Co.” line-up: Chris Jansing interviews Renee Trautwein and Phil Trautwein who are family members of Sarah Trautwein who was a victim of the faulty GM ignition switch. Also, joining Chris to discuss the GM recall is Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) who was in the House Congressional Hearing yesterday. The Huffington Post’s Ryan Grim and the Washington Post’s Ruth Marcus will be discussing the ACA and minimum wage. The President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget Maya MacGuineas and the Executive Director and Chief Economist at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth Heather Boushey will break down Paul Ryan’s budget proposal for 2015. Also, to discuss World Autism Awareness Day will be Liz Feld, the President of Autism Speaks.</p>
<p>*** Wednesday’s “News Nation with Tamron Hall” line-up: Tamron Hall interviews Greg Gardner from the Detroit Free Press on General Motors capitol hill testimony today; Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee on today’s press conference on minimum wage; Dr. Donna Plecha from UH Case Medical Ctr on the new mammogram study; NJ State Sen. Nicholas Scutari on his proposal to legalize pot in New Jersey; and Angela Benton, CEO of NewMe, on her company push to put minority women in tech field.</p>
<p>*** Wednesday’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” line-up: NBC’s Andrea Mitchell interviews Anita Hill, Autism Speaks Founders Bob and Suzanne Wright, the Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza, NBC’s Gabe Gutierrez and Anne Pollard Henderson, the ex-wife of spy Jonathan Pollard.</p>
<p>*** Wednesday’s “The Reid Report” line-up: MSNBC’s Joy Reid interviews Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) about the Affordable Care Act. Plus, msnbc.com’s Zachary Roth on GOP efforts to block the vote.</p>
| false | 3 |
obama agenda declaring victory new york times health care lede president obama declared victory tuesday governments aggressive push enroll seven million people private health insurance plans affordable care act even senior aides braced escalated political battle law ahead falls crucial midterm elections millions newly insured americans arent counted 71 million announced white house tuesday enrolled directly insurance provider new york times politicians policy makers focused number people signed exchanges nearly seven million counting day march 31 deadline largely overlooked group use exchanges even though could major impact programs financial success years ahead folks msnbccom take look whats next obamacare washington post repeated scandals involving secret service agents absolutely evidence cultural problem within agency director julia pierson said tuesday obama administrations campaign forge middle east peace agreement appeared near collapse tuesday despite us move negotiate release convicted american spy lastgasp effort win concessions israel wall street journal reports new quinnipiac poll shows obama negative ratings handling crisis ukraine 3955 grade handling foreign policy overall congress battling ryans budget nbcs frank thorp luke russert report paul ryans newly unveiled budget proposal plan ryan says would balance budget course decade would repeal affordable care act restructure entitlement programs reshape food stamp programs block grants new york times oped page calls ryans budget plan destructive countrys future looking like gridlock senate democrats minimum wage bill roll call republicans say might block consideration minimum wage pay equity bills senate democrats moved block gop amendments unemployment extension bill expected pass later week house tuesday passed legislation provide economic assistance ukraine sanction russia sending package president obama weeks russia formally took control ukraines crimean peninsula hill reports grilling yesterday gm ceo mary barras testimony capitol hill continue today wall street journal ms barra faced tough questions others running gm knew decisions made gm sought rebuild sales compact cars many times tuesday said didnt know gm officials recalled chevrolets saturns pontiacs faulty ignition switches saying answers would come internal probe charles keating jr keating five scandal died age 90 recent forcing medicare reimbursement rate patch house even longtime allies clashing politico writes tension ran high rep dave camp michigan panels typically reserved chairman late last week laced speaker john boehner rohio tense interaction closeddoor meeting taxwriting panel accusing ohio republicans staff dishonest multiple republican sources said lexington heraldleader us sens mitch mcconnell rlouisville rand paul rbowling green joined us sen lamar alexander rtenn tuesday introduce legislation said would preserve centuryold tradition tennessee walking horse ending contemptible practice illegal soring horses races focusing jindal washington post reports louisiana gov bobby jindal announce replacement obama health care law wednesday effort republican insert increasingly competitive early maneuvering partys presidential nomination green eggs ham green sen ted cruz get advance close 15 million personal memoir washington examiner reports also ap previews appearance liberty university today dc washington post reports councilmember muriel bowsers big win incumbent mayor vincent gray tuesdays primary bowser dward 4 moved deftly capitalize public doubts grays trustworthiness fueled stillunresolved federal corruption investigation 2010 campaign alone among seven democratic challengers amassed coalition crossed demographic geographic lines allowing outpoll grays shrunken steady base african american voters post also profiles bowser protege former mayor adrian fenty reticence emotional distance qualities might liability times campaign straightforward dramafree approach getting things done could asset city prizes accomplishment concession speech gray slammed timing primary election one thing say hope city change date primary gray said really poor run campaign winter trying knock doors february hard complex cold georgia super pac led joe ricketts airing ads democratic senate candidate michelle nunn theme obamacare mississippi mississippi quietly passed religious freedom law tuesday prompting alarm gay lesbian rights activists say could used justify discrimination name religion reports adam serwer msnbccom new hampshire sen scott brown stopped capitol tuesday see former possibly future republican colleagues senate programming notes wednesdays daily rundown lineup nbcs chuck todd interviews sen claire mccaskill dmo wilson centers aaron david miller syracuse mayor stephanie miner executive director working families party dan cantor nbc meteorologist bill karins wednesdays jansing amp co lineup chris jansing interviews renee trautwein phil trautwein family members sarah trautwein victim faulty gm ignition switch also joining chris discuss gm recall rep michael burgess rtx house congressional hearing yesterday huffington posts ryan grim washington posts ruth marcus discussing aca minimum wage president committee responsible federal budget maya macguineas executive director chief economist washington center equitable growth heather boushey break paul ryans budget proposal 2015 also discuss world autism awareness day liz feld president autism speaks wednesdays news nation tamron hall lineup tamron hall interviews greg gardner detroit free press general motors capitol hill testimony today rep sheila jackson lee todays press conference minimum wage dr donna plecha uh case medical ctr new mammogram study nj state sen nicholas scutari proposal legalize pot new jersey angela benton ceo newme company push put minority women tech field wednesdays andrea mitchell reports lineup nbcs andrea mitchell interviews anita hill autism speaks founders bob suzanne wright washington posts chris cillizza nbcs gabe gutierrez anne pollard henderson exwife spy jonathan pollard wednesdays reid report lineup msnbcs joy reid interviews sen barbara boxer dca affordable care act plus msnbccoms zachary roth gop efforts block vote
| 856 |
<p>The ‘Year of Trump’ is the Blade’s top national story. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>Although President Trump campaigned in 2016 on being a friend to LGBT people, his first year in office was marked by an erosion of LGBT rights after significant gains in recent years.</p>
<p>The infuriation within the LGBT community over Trump’s hostility to LGBT rights spanned the entirety of 2017 and stood in stark contrast to progress during the Obama years. The attacks helped fuel the “resist” movement against him, making the “Year of Trump” the Washington Blade’s No. 1 story for 2017.</p>
<p>A ban on transgender people in the military, withdrawal of Title IX guidance assuring transgender students access to the bathroom consistent with their gender identity, arguments in litigation LGBT people aren’t protected under existing civil rights law and intervention on behalf of an anti-gay baker before the U.S. Supreme Court are a few high-profile ways the administration undermined LGBT rights in Trump’s first year at the White House.</p>
<p>Rea Carey, executive director of the National LGBTQ Task Force said the first year of the Trump administration has been “horrendous, horrific and hellish when it comes to this administration’s actions toward LGBTQ people and our families.”</p>
<p>“He has turned back the clock on decades of progress, or is attempting to turn back the clock on decades of progress that we have made not only in our community, but also for people in this country who are women, who are black, who are immigrants, who are Muslim, who are poor — and he has been a disaster for democracy,” Carey said.</p>
<p>The first major rollback from the Trump administration on LGBT rights was the revocation in February of Obama-era guidance that assured transgender kids have access to school restrooms consistent with their gender identity. Bucking the views of numerous courts, the Trump administration asserted the prohibition of sex discrimination under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 doesn’t apply to transgender discrimination.</p>
<p>As a result of the decision, the U.S. Supreme Court nixed consideration of transgender student Gavin Grimm’s lawsuit against his Virginia high school, which barred him from the boys’ room. Grimm graduated without relief, although his lawsuit remains pending in lower federal courts.</p>
<p>The Education Department issued a new memo asserting discrimination and harassment against transgender students in school may amount to sex discrimination under federal law, but the issue of bathrooms isn’t necessarily covered Title IX.</p>
<p>A few months later in July, Trump announced via Twitter transgender people won’t be able to serve in the U.S. military “in any capacity.” That tweet and subsequent guidance to the U.S. military reversed the Obama-era change scrapping medical regulations against their service and enabling them to serve in the armed forces.</p>
<p>As a result of four separate lawsuits and court orders against the ban, the Pentagon was barred from enforcing Trump’s policy, which meant the administration was blocked from kicking out troops for being transgender or denying payment for gender reassignment surgery. The U.S. armed forces were also required to admit qualified transgender enlistees starting Jan. 1 consistent with a target date set by Defense Secretary James Mattis in a June 30 letter prior to Trump’s tweet.</p>
<p>The Trump administration went after the other components of the LGBT community after the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars sex discrimination in the workplace, also prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.</p>
<p>When the issue came before the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals, the Justice Department voluntarily filed a friend-of-the-court brief and sent a high-ranking attorney to argue existing civil rights law doesn’t protect gay people from discrimination. That move put the Justice Department at odds with another U.S. agency, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which has determined Title VII protects gay people.</p>
<p>Transgender people came next. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in October issued a memo declaring anti-trans discrimination also doesn’t amount to sex discrimination under existing law, reversing a memo from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder asserting transgender people are covered.</p>
<p>That wasn’t the only the time Sessions issued a memo endangering LGBT rights. In the aftermath of Trump’s “religious freedom” executive order, Sessions issued a memo asserting broad protections from individuals and businesses under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Without limiting principle in the document against discrimination, a Social Security worker could refuse to process applications for same-sex spousal benefits, or an employer could refuse to grant family and medical leave to LGBT families.</p>
<p>The Justice Department also took the side of “religious freedom” over LGBT rights at the U.S. Supreme Court when justices considered the Masterpiece Cakeshop case. A Colorado baker seeking a First Amendment right to refuse to make wedding cakes for same-sex couples brought the case.</p>
<p>The Trump administration sent to argue on behalf of the baker U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco, who indicated during oral augments a shopkeeper should be able to put up a sign saying no wedding cakes for same-sex couples — a belief the White House said Trump shares.</p>
<p>The Supreme Court would likely not have even taken up the Masterpiece Cakeshop case if U.S. Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch wasn’t confirmed to the bench. Appointed by Trump in January, Gorsuch was opposed by major LGBT rights groups. Since his confirmation, the Supreme Court took up the Masterpiece Cakeshop case and he has issued dissents arguing the fight for marriage equality isn’t over after the 2015 Obergefell decision.</p>
<p>Trump also ignored the LGBT community in more symbolic ways, such as neglecting to issue a proclamation recognizing June as Pride month. The Trump administration has been found to have eliminated questions in federal surveys allowing respondents to identify as LGBT and reportedly barred the Centers for Disease Control from the using the word “transgender” among other science-related words from budget documents.</p>
<p>Additionally, the administration’s budget request would have restricted funding for civil rights enforcement and cuts HIV/AIDS programs and research by billions of dollars.</p>
<p>Carey said these items — especially the “religious freedom” guidance, which she said is “extraordinarily damaging, and will have long-term impacts for the country” — are among the big-ticket items, but “there are dozens and dozens of things that have happened that aren’t in the news.”</p>
<p>“I’ve been working in Washington, D.C., since 1989, and I have worked with Democratic and Republican administrations, I worked through Bush 1 and Bush 2,” Carey said. “And this is nothing like those administrations. We always have policy differences, but I think the kind of haphazard and harmful nature of so-called governing by this administration is certainly something that our community hasn’t seen.”</p>
<p>The actions against LGBT people, Carey said, are consistent with the Trump administration’s efforts targeting other communities, such as the travel ban on Muslim countries, the elimination of deferred deportation for DREAMers and the elimination of the contraception requirement in health care.</p>
<p>Defenders of Trump on LGBT issues will point to a statement issued earlier in the year in which the White House said Trump is “respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights” and would keep in place a 2014 executive order signed by President Obama barring federal contractors from engaging in anti-LGBT workplace discrimination.</p>
<p>Trump also made at least openly four LGBT appointments, although they’re few and far between compared to the hundreds former President Obama appointed to the administration at all levels of government and the judiciary.</p>
<p>The highest-profile openly gay Trump appointee is Richard Grenell, a Fox News commentator and foreign policy expert who was nominated as U.S. ambassador to Germany. Democrats are blocking his confirmation over comments he made about the appearance of women on Twitter.</p>
<p>Other openly gay appointments are James Abbott, who was confirmed to the Federal Labor Relations Authority; David Glawe, under secretary for intelligence and analysis at the Department of Homeland Security; and Claudia Slacik, who was nominated, but not yet confirmed, to the board of the U.S. Export-Import Bank. Trump also re-nominated lesbian Democrat Chai Feldblum to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which by law requires appointments of both parties.</p>
<p>Gregory Angelo, president of Log Cabin Republicans, noted his organization withheld its endorsement from Trump as a candidate in 2016, but also pledged to call “a ball a ball, and a strike a strike” if he became president.</p>
<p>“This administration has done things that are worthy of praise like maintaining the LGBT non-discrimination executive order, like acknowledging the human rights abuses of gay men in particular in the refugee executive order that was put out earlier this year and the appointment of openly gay individuals, several of whom are members of Log Cabin, to prominent posts in his administration,” Angelo said.</p>
<p>But Angelo said his organization opposed the Trump administration’s elimination of transgender student guidance and the transgender military ban.</p>
<p>Treatment of LGBT issues is arguably different in certain U.S. agencies, most notably the State Department. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson retained the position of U.S. special envoy for international LGBT rights, and although Randy Berry left the role, the State Department is expected to fill it. Tillerson also has issued statements recognizing June as Pride month and the Transgender Day of Remembrance.</p>
<p>Although President Trump and the White House have said nothing about reports of anti-gay persecution and concentration camps in the Russian republic of Chechnya, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said she was “disturbed” by the reports and Tillerson privately raised the issue in a letter to the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.</p>
<p>The U.S. mission to the United Nations also joined with France and Brazil to block efforts from Egypt and Russia to remove from an Olympics resolution a reference to Principle 6 of the Olympics Charter, which bars discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.</p>
<p>Jessica Stern, executive director of OutRight Action, cited these examples as indications LGBT rights “are increasingly integrated into U.S. foreign policy in spite of the president.”</p>
<p>“We have succeeded by working with allies within this government, allies from other governments, using long-standing policies, and motivating unlikely suspects to recognize that LGBTI people globally deserve our respect,” Stern said. “All of this happens because our movement is strong, loud and insistent.”</p>
<p>However, Stern said the Trump administration’s approach to foreign policy as a whole has by far not been without failures or inconsistent with his domestic LGBT policy.</p>
<p>“Trump’s foreign policy has been about isolationism, militarism, Muslim-bashing, border construction, the control of women’s bodies, and an overall rejection of human rights,” Stern said. “In that sense, his foreign and domestic policies have been remarkably aligned.”</p>
<p>What’s next? The administration will likely continue to fight transgender military service in the courts even if accession begins on Jan. 1 as well as LGBT protections under existing civil rights law. Depending on the outcome of the Masterpiece Cakeshop case at the Supreme Court, the administration will likely embrace a decision in favor of the anti-gay baker, or reject a ruling in favor of the same-sex couple who unsuccessfully sought a wedding cake from him.</p>
<p>Carey said she expects the Trump administration to “still take actions that will be harmful to our community” — such as U.S. agencies implementing the religious freedom guidance against LGBT people — but any such actions against LGBT people will “absolutely” be met with opposition from the community.</p>
<p>“I think it will only increase,” Carey said. “As I talk with leaders in other movements and other communities, there is a hunger to continue to stand together to engage the many people who perhaps before this year have not been as politically active and are ready to stand together whether it’s in the streets, or in the halls of Congress or in their school boards in their towns to stand together to make sure that the most vulnerable people in this country are not going to be attacked again and again and again.”</p>
<p>The White House didn’t respond to the Washington Blade’s request for comment on whether the Trump administration believes it has upheld a commitment to be “respectful and supportive of LGBTQ rights” in its first year.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Barack Obama</a> <a href="" type="internal">Civil Rights Act of 1964</a> <a href="" type="internal">DOD</a> <a href="" type="internal">DOJ</a> <a href="" type="internal">Donald Trump</a> <a href="" type="internal">EEOC</a> <a href="" type="internal">Eric Holder</a> <a href="" type="internal">Gavin Grimm</a> <a href="" type="internal">James Mattis</a> <a href="" type="internal">LGBT rights</a> <a href="" type="internal">Masterpiece Cakeshop</a> <a href="" type="internal">National LGBTQ Task Force</a> <a href="" type="internal">Pentagon</a> <a href="" type="internal">Rea Carey</a> <a href="" type="internal">Title IX</a> <a href="" type="internal">trans</a> <a href="" type="internal">transgender</a> <a href="" type="internal">transgender military ban</a> <a href="" type="internal">Trump administration</a> <a href="" type="internal">twitter</a> <a href="" type="internal">U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission</a> <a href="" type="internal">U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals</a> <a href="" type="internal">United States Department of Defense</a> <a href="" type="internal">United States Department of Education</a> <a href="" type="internal">United States Department of Justice</a> <a href="" type="internal">United States Supreme Court</a> <a href="" type="internal">Virginia</a> <a href="" type="internal">Washington Blade</a></p>
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year trump blades top national story washington blade file photo michael key although president trump campaigned 2016 friend lgbt people first year office marked erosion lgbt rights significant gains recent years infuriation within lgbt community trumps hostility lgbt rights spanned entirety 2017 stood stark contrast progress obama years attacks helped fuel resist movement making year trump washington blades 1 story 2017 ban transgender people military withdrawal title ix guidance assuring transgender students access bathroom consistent gender identity arguments litigation lgbt people arent protected existing civil rights law intervention behalf antigay baker us supreme court highprofile ways administration undermined lgbt rights trumps first year white house rea carey executive director national lgbtq task force said first year trump administration horrendous horrific hellish comes administrations actions toward lgbtq people families turned back clock decades progress attempting turn back clock decades progress made community also people country women black immigrants muslim poor disaster democracy carey said first major rollback trump administration lgbt rights revocation february obamaera guidance assured transgender kids access school restrooms consistent gender identity bucking views numerous courts trump administration asserted prohibition sex discrimination title ix education amendments 1972 doesnt apply transgender discrimination result decision us supreme court nixed consideration transgender student gavin grimms lawsuit virginia high school barred boys room grimm graduated without relief although lawsuit remains pending lower federal courts education department issued new memo asserting discrimination harassment transgender students school may amount sex discrimination federal law issue bathrooms isnt necessarily covered title ix months later july trump announced via twitter transgender people wont able serve us military capacity tweet subsequent guidance us military reversed obamaera change scrapping medical regulations service enabling serve armed forces result four separate lawsuits court orders ban pentagon barred enforcing trumps policy meant administration blocked kicking troops transgender denying payment gender reassignment surgery us armed forces also required admit qualified transgender enlistees starting jan 1 consistent target date set defense secretary james mattis june 30 letter prior trumps tweet trump administration went components lgbt community us seventh circuit court appeals ruled title vii civil rights act 1964 bars sex discrimination workplace also prohibits employment discrimination basis sexual orientation issue came us second circuit court appeals justice department voluntarily filed friendofthecourt brief sent highranking attorney argue existing civil rights law doesnt protect gay people discrimination move put justice department odds another us agency us equal employment opportunity commission determined title vii protects gay people transgender people came next us attorney general jeff sessions october issued memo declaring antitrans discrimination also doesnt amount sex discrimination existing law reversing memo us attorney general eric holder asserting transgender people covered wasnt time sessions issued memo endangering lgbt rights aftermath trumps religious freedom executive order sessions issued memo asserting broad protections individuals businesses religious freedom restoration act without limiting principle document discrimination social security worker could refuse process applications samesex spousal benefits employer could refuse grant family medical leave lgbt families justice department also took side religious freedom lgbt rights us supreme court justices considered masterpiece cakeshop case colorado baker seeking first amendment right refuse make wedding cakes samesex couples brought case trump administration sent argue behalf baker us solicitor general noel francisco indicated oral augments shopkeeper able put sign saying wedding cakes samesex couples belief white house said trump shares supreme court would likely even taken masterpiece cakeshop case us associate justice neil gorsuch wasnt confirmed bench appointed trump january gorsuch opposed major lgbt rights groups since confirmation supreme court took masterpiece cakeshop case issued dissents arguing fight marriage equality isnt 2015 obergefell decision trump also ignored lgbt community symbolic ways neglecting issue proclamation recognizing june pride month trump administration found eliminated questions federal surveys allowing respondents identify lgbt reportedly barred centers disease control using word transgender among sciencerelated words budget documents additionally administrations budget request would restricted funding civil rights enforcement cuts hivaids programs research billions dollars carey said items especially religious freedom guidance said extraordinarily damaging longterm impacts country among bigticket items dozens dozens things happened arent news ive working washington dc since 1989 worked democratic republican administrations worked bush 1 bush 2 carey said nothing like administrations always policy differences think kind haphazard harmful nature socalled governing administration certainly something community hasnt seen actions lgbt people carey said consistent trump administrations efforts targeting communities travel ban muslim countries elimination deferred deportation dreamers elimination contraception requirement health care defenders trump lgbt issues point statement issued earlier year white house said trump respectful supportive lgbtq rights would keep place 2014 executive order signed president obama barring federal contractors engaging antilgbt workplace discrimination trump also made least openly four lgbt appointments although theyre far compared hundreds former president obama appointed administration levels government judiciary highestprofile openly gay trump appointee richard grenell fox news commentator foreign policy expert nominated us ambassador germany democrats blocking confirmation comments made appearance women twitter openly gay appointments james abbott confirmed federal labor relations authority david glawe secretary intelligence analysis department homeland security claudia slacik nominated yet confirmed board us exportimport bank trump also renominated lesbian democrat chai feldblum us equal employment opportunity commission law requires appointments parties gregory angelo president log cabin republicans noted organization withheld endorsement trump candidate 2016 also pledged call ball ball strike strike became president administration done things worthy praise like maintaining lgbt nondiscrimination executive order like acknowledging human rights abuses gay men particular refugee executive order put earlier year appointment openly gay individuals several members log cabin prominent posts administration angelo said angelo said organization opposed trump administrations elimination transgender student guidance transgender military ban treatment lgbt issues arguably different certain us agencies notably state department secretary state rex tillerson retained position us special envoy international lgbt rights although randy berry left role state department expected fill tillerson also issued statements recognizing june pride month transgender day remembrance although president trump white house said nothing reports antigay persecution concentration camps russian republic chechnya us ambassador united nations nikki haley said disturbed reports tillerson privately raised issue letter russian foreign minister sergey lavrov us mission united nations also joined france brazil block efforts egypt russia remove olympics resolution reference principle 6 olympics charter bars discrimination basis sexual orientation jessica stern executive director outright action cited examples indications lgbt rights increasingly integrated us foreign policy spite president succeeded working allies within government allies governments using longstanding policies motivating unlikely suspects recognize lgbti people globally deserve respect stern said happens movement strong loud insistent however stern said trump administrations approach foreign policy whole far without failures inconsistent domestic lgbt policy trumps foreign policy isolationism militarism muslimbashing border construction control womens bodies overall rejection human rights stern said sense foreign domestic policies remarkably aligned whats next administration likely continue fight transgender military service courts even accession begins jan 1 well lgbt protections existing civil rights law depending outcome masterpiece cakeshop case supreme court administration likely embrace decision favor antigay baker reject ruling favor samesex couple unsuccessfully sought wedding cake carey said expects trump administration still take actions harmful community us agencies implementing religious freedom guidance lgbt people actions lgbt people absolutely met opposition community think increase carey said talk leaders movements communities hunger continue stand together engage many people perhaps year politically active ready stand together whether streets halls congress school boards towns stand together make sure vulnerable people country going attacked white house didnt respond washington blades request comment whether trump administration believes upheld commitment respectful supportive lgbtq rights first year barack obama civil rights act 1964 dod doj donald trump eeoc eric holder gavin grimm james mattis lgbt rights masterpiece cakeshop national lgbtq task force pentagon rea carey title ix trans transgender transgender military ban trump administration twitter us equal employment opportunity commission us second circuit court appeals united states department defense united states department education united states department justice united states supreme court virginia washington blade
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<p>June 14, 2013</p>
<p>By Katy Grimes</p>
<p>SACRAMENTO – The Assembly and Senate Republicans should have registered their ‘no’ votes on the budget, and packed up and gone home to their districts on Friday, instead of allowing the process to be dragged out for another 24 hours.</p>
<p>The Democratic supermajority not only has enough votes to pass whatever budget they choose, it was entirely crafted without input from Republicans.</p>
<p>California is indeed a strange place when Gov. Jerry Brown is the only adult in the room at budget time. &#160;The Democrats and Gov. Brown reached a budget compromise earlier in the week, and it was Brown who reined in the Democratic Supermajority spending wish list… slightly.</p>
<p>And the budget is still far from perfect.</p>
<p>While Brown allocated $1.7 billion in the budget to pay down some debt, the budget fails to pay down any significant amount of the state’s growing debt.</p>
<p>On Friday, the Assembly passed the budget bill, AB 110, on a 54-25 party line vote. The floor debate was clearly defined by party as well.</p>
<p>But, according to Assemblyman <a href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/government/jeff-gorell-PEPLT00008576.topic" type="external">Jeff Gorell</a>, R-Camarillo, there are four very clear problems with this budget:</p>
<p>1. the budget plan programs massive spending obligations next year.</p>
<p>2. Fails to address in any meaningful way the state’s massive wall of debt of nearly $700 billion.</p>
<p>3. This budget diverts Proposition 30 revenues to programs that are not education, as promised by Gov. Jerry Brown.</p>
<p>4. Borrows $500 million from the state’s cap-and-trade fund to go right into the general fund.</p>
<p>Gorell said the Democratic budget sets California on a course for new spending that will be unsustainable.</p>
<p>And earlier in the week, Gorell compared the budget to a mullet haircut –“It’s conservative up front, but it’s liberal in the back.”</p>
<p>“My caucus believes our responsibility is to represent the taxpaying citizens of California, that’s why we were sent here,” Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway, of Tulare. “And yet we feel that in this process perhaps we did not have the equal opportunity to do that. To not be included was a choice of others, not ours.”</p>
<p>“We stand ready to work when the opportunity is afforded us and in a process that we think should be democratic, not simply done by Democrats,” Conway said during the budget debate.</p>
<p>One of the biggest problems with the budget is it relies on new tax revenues from Prop. 30, passed in November. But Prop. 30 is set to sunset in five/seven years. By then, the state will be used to spending the money it brings in, and either drastic cuts will need to be made, or Democrats will push for an extension.</p>
<p>The other problem with Prop. 30 spending is the money was promised by the governor to go to education. Gorell said the budget has Prop. 30 money, allotted for numerous non-educational programs, “in contravention of voters’ intentions and desires when they narrowly supported Prop. 30 last fall.”</p>
<p>“This budget proves that cap-and-trade is an illegal tax,” Assemblywoman Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, said. “AB 32 was supposed to save the planet from global warming.”</p>
<p>AB 32 is <a href="http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/ab32/ab32.htm" type="external">California’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006</a>, and&#160; allowed the California Air Resources Board to&#160;devise a&#160; <a href="http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/capandtrade/capandtrade.htm" type="external">cap-and-trade system&#160;</a>whereby it holds a quarterly auction program “requiring many California employers to bid significant amounts of money for the privilege of continuing to emit carbon dioxide — or be faced with closing their doors in California, laying off their employees, and moving their businesses to other states,” the Pacific Legal Foundation recently said.</p>
<p>“And, Prop. 30 was sold to put money in schools,” Grove added. “It’s going to welfare instead of paying off the school debt.”</p>
<p>“The budget proposal contains a $500 million loan from the controversial “Cap and Trade” program, which was supposed to fund environmental improvement projects, Conway added. “Instead, the loan will be used for the general fund. It will cost taxpayers $26 million in interest and there is no plan on how to fund this new spending next year.&#160; Also, the proposal hides spending increases by implementing them at the end of the year and locking in future increases.”</p>
<p>Grove and Conway are right. But Democrats in the state see the cap-and-trade and Prop. 30 tax revenues as pots of money in which they can borrow. The only problem is the state never repays what it borrows.</p>
<p>“The budget proposal reduces the debt repayment to schools by $676 million,” Conway said. “The state will still owe this money to education, but the obligation will be pushed back another year to fuel more spending.”</p>
<p>“ <a href="http://www.arc.asm.ca.gov/?p=article&amp;sid=194&amp;id=255434" type="external">Republicans proposed a freeze on tuition, which was rejected by the majority party</a>,” Conway said. “The new college scholarship entitlement program created by this budget will not be funded for another year.&#160; Meanwhile, the Democrat budget contains no guarantee against future tuition hikes. “</p>
<p>According to the governor’s budget proposal, California’s “wall of debt” includes:</p>
<p>* Deferred payments to schools and community colleges;</p>
<p>* Economic Recovery Bonds;</p>
<p>* Loans from Special Funds;</p>
<p>* Unpaid costs to local governments, schools and community colleges for&#160;state mandates;</p>
<p>* Underfunding of Proposition 98;</p>
<p>* Borrowing from local government (Proposition 1A);</p>
<p>* Deferred Medi-Cal Costs;</p>
<p>* Deferral of state payroll costs from June to July;</p>
<p>* Deferred payments to CalPERS;</p>
<p>* Borrowing from transportation funds (Proposition 42).</p>
<p>Brown has had little explanation or discussion of the state’s massive debt problem in this budget since first proposing it in January, in the May Budget Revise, and through today’s budget vote.&#160;But before understanding state spending and any talk of a surplus, the state’s debt cannot be ignored.</p>
<p>According to the&#160; <a href="http://sbaction.org/sbAction/WallofDebt?1=1" type="external">Small Business Action Committee</a>, because the Legislature has refused to make any sincere pension reforms moves, nearly $2.5 billion in pension debt has been run up just in&#160;the last two years.</p>
<p>Brown occasionally speaks of California’s “wall of debt.” &#160;However, he is usually careful in his definition of debt, and only attributes a very small segment of what the actual debt obligation is.</p>
<p>The written <a href="http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/FullBudgetSummary.pdf" type="external">May Budget Revision</a> said the budget plan would reduce the wall of debt to less than $5 billion by the fiscal year end of 2017, from $27 billion today.</p>
<p>Democrats have been touting a surplus with this budget But it must be difficult to reconcile a supposed state “surplus,” with actual, total bond debt of $79.6 billion, California State Teachers’ Retirement System debt of $70.9 billion, California Public Employee Retirement System debt of $128.3 billion, and other post-employment benefit debt of $63.8 billion, according to <a href="http://sbaction.org/sbAction/WallofDebt?1=1" type="external">SBAC</a>.</p>
<p>Conway noted the State Auditor recently totaled up all of the state’s unrestricted assets and income, and then compared them against the state’s liabilities to determine <a href="http://www.bsa.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2012-001.pdf" type="external">California had a negative net worth of $127.2 billion</a>.</p>
<p>“What would a Republican budget look like?” Gorell asked. “More Prop. 30 monies wold go to public education, particularly payig down Prop. 98 deferrals and other debt. No borrowing against special funds like cap-and-trade. Refrain from adopting long term programatic spending against a short term, temporary revenue stream. And likely we’d abandon financial sipport to the calamity that was once high speed rail, which has no morphed into a monument to government tone deaf largesse and inefficiency.”</p>
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june 14 2013 katy grimes sacramento assembly senate republicans registered votes budget packed gone home districts friday instead allowing process dragged another 24 hours democratic supermajority enough votes pass whatever budget choose entirely crafted without input republicans california indeed strange place gov jerry brown adult room budget time 160the democrats gov brown reached budget compromise earlier week brown reined democratic supermajority spending wish list slightly budget still far perfect brown allocated 17 billion budget pay debt budget fails pay significant amount states growing debt friday assembly passed budget bill ab 110 5425 party line vote floor debate clearly defined party well according assemblyman jeff gorell rcamarillo four clear problems budget 1 budget plan programs massive spending obligations next year 2 fails address meaningful way states massive wall debt nearly 700 billion 3 budget diverts proposition 30 revenues programs education promised gov jerry brown 4 borrows 500 million states capandtrade fund go right general fund gorell said democratic budget sets california course new spending unsustainable earlier week gorell compared budget mullet haircut conservative front liberal back caucus believes responsibility represent taxpaying citizens california thats sent assembly republican leader connie conway tulare yet feel process perhaps equal opportunity included choice others stand ready work opportunity afforded us process think democratic simply done democrats conway said budget debate one biggest problems budget relies new tax revenues prop 30 passed november prop 30 set sunset fiveseven years state used spending money brings either drastic cuts need made democrats push extension problem prop 30 spending money promised governor go education gorell said budget prop 30 money allotted numerous noneducational programs contravention voters intentions desires narrowly supported prop 30 last fall budget proves capandtrade illegal tax assemblywoman shannon grove rbakersfield said ab 32 supposed save planet global warming ab 32 californias global warming solutions act 2006 and160 allowed california air resources board to160devise a160 capandtrade system160whereby holds quarterly auction program requiring many california employers bid significant amounts money privilege continuing emit carbon dioxide faced closing doors california laying employees moving businesses states pacific legal foundation recently said prop 30 sold put money schools grove added going welfare instead paying school debt budget proposal contains 500 million loan controversial cap trade program supposed fund environmental improvement projects conway added instead loan used general fund cost taxpayers 26 million interest plan fund new spending next year160 also proposal hides spending increases implementing end year locking future increases grove conway right democrats state see capandtrade prop 30 tax revenues pots money borrow problem state never repays borrows budget proposal reduces debt repayment schools 676 million conway said state still owe money education obligation pushed back another year fuel spending republicans proposed freeze tuition rejected majority party conway said new college scholarship entitlement program created budget funded another year160 meanwhile democrat budget contains guarantee future tuition hikes according governors budget proposal californias wall debt includes deferred payments schools community colleges economic recovery bonds loans special funds unpaid costs local governments schools community colleges for160state mandates underfunding proposition 98 borrowing local government proposition 1a deferred medical costs deferral state payroll costs june july deferred payments calpers borrowing transportation funds proposition 42 brown little explanation discussion states massive debt problem budget since first proposing january may budget revise todays budget vote160but understanding state spending talk surplus states debt ignored according the160 small business action committee legislature refused make sincere pension reforms moves nearly 25 billion pension debt run in160the last two years brown occasionally speaks californias wall debt 160however usually careful definition debt attributes small segment actual debt obligation written may budget revision said budget plan would reduce wall debt less 5 billion fiscal year end 2017 27 billion today democrats touting surplus budget must difficult reconcile supposed state surplus actual total bond debt 796 billion california state teachers retirement system debt 709 billion california public employee retirement system debt 1283 billion postemployment benefit debt 638 billion according sbac conway noted state auditor recently totaled states unrestricted assets income compared states liabilities determine california negative net worth 1272 billion would republican budget look like gorell asked prop 30 monies wold go public education particularly payig prop 98 deferrals debt borrowing special funds like capandtrade refrain adopting long term programatic spending short term temporary revenue stream likely wed abandon financial sipport calamity high speed rail morphed monument government tone deaf largesse inefficiency
| 719 |
<p>Update: Conyers has told The <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-21/the-latest-ryan-calls-conyers-report-deeply-troubling" type="external">Associated Press</a> that he hasn’t settled any sexual harassment complaints with any staff members. Conyers, who answered the door at his Detroit home Tuesday morning, says he knows nothing about any claims of inappropriate touching and learned of the story just hours earlier. Referring to allegations of sexual harassment and assault being made against politicians and others, the veteran lawmaker says he’s “been looking at these things with amazement.”</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Paul Ryan – who Cernovich blamed for enabling Conyers’ settlement – called the settlement “extremely troubling” and vowed to continue reviewing House policy on sexual harassment in the workplace.</p>
<p>“People who work in the House deserve and are entitled to a workplace without harassment or discrimination,” Ryan said, outlining the recent steps the House has made to combat sexual misconduct in Congress.</p>
<p>As <a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ryan-allegations-conyers-extremely-troubling" type="external">Talking Points Memo</a> pointed out, last month the Committee on House Administration reviewed its procedures related to workplace harassment and discrimination, and last week that committee issued a new policy requiring “mandatory training for all members and staff,” he said.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>Last week, we reported how Congress’s Office of Compliance paid out $17 million for 264 settlements with federal employees over 20 years for various violations, including sexual harassment – information that was brought to light by California Rep. Jackie Speier, who claimed that two men with a history of sexual harassment continued to serve in the House – one of whom was a Republican and one a Democrat.</p>
<p>Now, thanks to <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/paulmcleod/she-complained-that-a-powerful-congressman-harassed-her?utm_term=.ivgkxLEv3#.kpqDLAawP" type="external">Buzzfeed</a>News, the mystery Democrat has been identified as Michigan Rep. John Conyers, the ranking member on the powerful House Judiciary Committee and the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives. In 2014, a former Conyers staffer filed a complaint claiming she was fired for refusing his sexual advances, and that she had been subsequently blackballed from working with Congress.</p>
<p>The woman received a $30,000 settlement, which was paid out of Conyers’s taxpayer-funded office budget.</p>
<p>The woman who settled with Conyers launched the complaint with the Office of Compliance in 2014, alleging she was fired for refusing his sexual advances, and ended up facing a daunting process that ended with a confidentiality agreement in exchange for a settlement of more than $27,000. Her settlement, however, came from Conyers’ office budget rather than the designated fund for settlements.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Congress has no human resources department. Instead, congressional employees have 180 days to report a sexual harassment incident to the Office of Compliance, which then leads to a lengthy process that involves counseling and mediation, and requires the signing of a confidentiality agreement before a complaint can go forward.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>After this an employee can choose to take the matter to federal district court, but another avenue is available: an administrative hearing, after which a negotiation and settlement may follow.</p>
<p>A law clerk who represented the woman, who was not named by Buzzfeed and has never come forward with her story, said the settlement process was like “being abused twice” for the poor woman.&#160; In the settlement papers, other staffers in Conyers’ office discuss acting as couriers who transported women with who Conyers was allegedly having affairs.</p>
<p>The process was “disgusting,” said Matthew Peterson, who worked as a law clerk representing the complainant, and who listed as a signatory to some of the documents.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>“It is a designed cover-up,” said Peterson, who declined to discuss details of the case but agreed to characterize it in general terms. “You feel like they were betrayed by their government just for coming forward. It’s like being abused twice.”</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Other lawyers named as representing the accuser could not be reached for comment. The Office of Compliance did not confirm or deny that it had dealt with the case.</p>
<p>The documents were first provided to BuzzFeed News by Mike Cernovich, who said he gave the documents to BuzzFeed News for vetting and further reporting, and because he said if he published them himself, Democrats and congressional leaders would “try to discredit the story by attacking the messenger.” He provided them without conditions. BuzzFeed News independently confirmed the authenticity of the documents with four people directly involved with the case, including the accuser.</p>
<p>In a series of tweets published last night, Cernovich explained why he leaked the story to Buzzfeed, and also blamed House Speaker Paul Ryan for covering up Conyers’ harassment.</p>
<p>In her wrongful dismissal complaint, the former employee said Conyers repeatedly asked her for sexual favors and often asked her to join him in a hotel room. On one occasion, she alleges that Conyers asked her to work out of his room for the evening, but when she arrived the congressman started talking about his sexual desires. She alleged he then told her she needed to “touch it,” in reference to his penis, or find him a woman who would meet his sexual demands.</p>
<p>As Buzzfeed pointed out, Congress has no human resources department. Instead, congressional employees have 180 days to report a sexual harassment incident to the Office of Compliance, which then leads to a lengthy process that involves counseling and mediation, and requires the signing of a confidentiality agreement before a complaint can go forward. After this, the complainant can choose to either pursue the matter in federal district court or seek a settlement through an administrative hearing.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user245717/imageroot/2017/11/20/2017.11.21congressionalcomplaint.JPG" type="external">&lt;img src="https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/images/user245717/imageroot/2017/11/20/2017.11.21congressionalcomplaint_0.JPG" alt="" /&gt;</a></p>
<p>In the complaint, which is available in full below, the woman alleges that Conyers sexually harassed her by asking her to touch his penis, or find another woman who would meet his sexual demands. Conyers also made her work nights, weekends and holidays on occasion to “keep him company.”</p>
<p>In her complaint, the former employee said Conyers repeatedly asked her for sexual favors and often asked her to join him in a hotel room. On one occasion, she alleges that Conyers asked her to work out of his room for the evening, but when she arrived the congressman started talking about his sexual desires. She alleged he then told her she needed to “touch it,” in reference to his penis, or find him a woman who would meet his sexual demands. She alleged Conyers made her work nights, evenings, and holidays to keep him company.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>In another incident, the former employee alleged the congressman insisted she stay in his room while they traveled together for a fundraising event. When she told him that she would not stay with him, she alleged he told her to “just cuddle up with me and caress me before you go.”</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>“Rep. Conyers strongly postulated that the performing of personal service or favors would be looked upon favorably and lead to salary increases or promotions,” the former employee said in the documents.</p>
<p>Three other staff members provided affidavits submitted to the Office Of Compliance that outlined a pattern of behavior from Conyers that included touching the woman in a sexual manner and growing angry when she brought her husband around.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>One affidavit from a former female employee states that she was tasked with flying in women for the congressman. “One of my duties while working for Rep. Conyers was to keep a list of women that I assumed he was having affairs with and call them at his request and, if necessary, have them flown in using Congressional resources,” said her affidavit. (A second staffer alleged in an interview that Conyers used taxpayer resources to fly women to him.)</p>
<p>One male employee who corroborated the victim’s claims in an affidavit said he witnessed Conyers touch his staffers in an inappropriate, sexual manner. The women in his office said it was widely known that Conyers had sexual relationships with his staff, something the women felt undermined their credibility.</p>
<p>The employee said in her affidavit that Conyers also made sexual advances toward her: “I was driving the Congressman in my personal car and was resting my hand on the stick shift. Rep. Conyers reached over and began to caress my hand in a sexual manner.”</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>The woman said she told Conyers she was married and not interested in pursuing a sexual relationship, according to the affidavit. She said she was told many times by constituents that it was well-known that Conyers had sexual relationships with his staff, and said she and other female staffers felt this undermined their credibility.</p>
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<p>“I am personally aware of several women who have experienced the same or similar sexual advances made towards them by Rep[.] John Conyers,” she said in her affidavit.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>A male employee wrote that he witnessed Rep. Conyers rub the legs and other body parts of the complainant “in what appeared to be a sexual manner” and saw the congressman rub and touch other women “in an inappropriate manner.” The employee said he confronted Conyers about this behavior.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>“Rep. Conyers said he needed to be ‘more careful’ because bad publicity would not be helpful as he runs for re-election. He ended the conversation with me by saying he would ‘work on’ his behavior,” the male staffer said in his affidavit.</p>
<p>One reason Conyers’ staffers tolerated his behavior, as Buzzfeed points out, was the Congressman’s status as a civil rights icon, something his staffers believed insulated him from criticism. He is also incredibly popular among his constituents in Detroit.</p>
<p>Conyers is a civil rights icon. He was lauded by Martin Luther King Jr. and is a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>“Your story won’t do shit to him,” said the staffer. “He’s untouchable.”</p>
<p>Representatives for Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and former Speaker John Boehner said both lawmakers were unaware of the settlements because of the confidentiality agreements. Paul Ryan’s office didn’t return Buzzfeed’s request for comment.</p>
<p>To help rectify Congress’s broken system, Rep. Speier has introduced legislation to overhaul the complaint process, including requiring the Office of Compliance to publicly name the office of any member who enters into a settlement. The bill would also allow complainants to waive mediation and counseling, set up a victims’ counsel, and require all congressional offices to go through harassment training every year.</p>
<p>In the meantime, we imagine this won’t be the last bombshell disclosure implicating a high-ranking member of Congress. Indeed, if recent trends are any guide, it’s only a matter of time, we believe, before the Republican whom Speiers alluded to is unmasked.</p>
<p>Read the complaint in its entirety below:</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p><a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/365069117/2017-11-21buzzfeed#from_embed" type="external">2017.11.21buzzfeed</a> by <a href="https://www.scribd.com/publisher/7989050/zerohedge#from_embed" type="external">zerohedge</a> on Scribd</p>
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update conyers told associated press hasnt settled sexual harassment complaints staff members conyers answered door detroit home tuesday morning says knows nothing claims inappropriate touching learned story hours earlier referring allegations sexual harassment assault made politicians others veteran lawmaker says hes looking things amazement meanwhile paul ryan cernovich blamed enabling conyers settlement called settlement extremely troubling vowed continue reviewing house policy sexual harassment workplace people work house deserve entitled workplace without harassment discrimination ryan said outlining recent steps house made combat sexual misconduct congress talking points memo pointed last month committee house administration reviewed procedures related workplace harassment discrimination last week committee issued new policy requiring mandatory training members staff said last week reported congresss office compliance paid 17 million 264 settlements federal employees 20 years various violations including sexual harassment information brought light california rep jackie speier claimed two men history sexual harassment continued serve house one republican one democrat thanks buzzfeednews mystery democrat identified michigan rep john conyers ranking member powerful house judiciary committee longestserving member house representatives 2014 former conyers staffer filed complaint claiming fired refusing sexual advances subsequently blackballed working congress woman received 30000 settlement paid conyerss taxpayerfunded office budget woman settled conyers launched complaint office compliance 2014 alleging fired refusing sexual advances ended facing daunting process ended confidentiality agreement exchange settlement 27000 settlement however came conyers office budget rather designated fund settlements 160 congress human resources department instead congressional employees 180 days report sexual harassment incident office compliance leads lengthy process involves counseling mediation requires signing confidentiality agreement complaint go forward 160 employee choose take matter federal district court another avenue available administrative hearing negotiation settlement may follow law clerk represented woman named buzzfeed never come forward story said settlement process like abused twice poor woman160 settlement papers staffers conyers office discuss acting couriers transported women conyers allegedly affairs process disgusting said matthew peterson worked law clerk representing complainant listed signatory documents 160 designed coverup said peterson declined discuss details case agreed characterize general terms feel like betrayed government coming forward like abused twice 160 lawyers named representing accuser could reached comment office compliance confirm deny dealt case documents first provided buzzfeed news mike cernovich said gave documents buzzfeed news vetting reporting said published democrats congressional leaders would try discredit story attacking messenger provided without conditions buzzfeed news independently confirmed authenticity documents four people directly involved case including accuser series tweets published last night cernovich explained leaked story buzzfeed also blamed house speaker paul ryan covering conyers harassment wrongful dismissal complaint former employee said conyers repeatedly asked sexual favors often asked join hotel room one occasion alleges conyers asked work room evening arrived congressman started talking sexual desires alleged told needed touch reference penis find woman would meet sexual demands buzzfeed pointed congress human resources department instead congressional employees 180 days report sexual harassment incident office compliance leads lengthy process involves counseling mediation requires signing confidentiality agreement complaint go forward complainant choose either pursue matter federal district court seek settlement administrative hearing ltimg srchttpswwwzerohedgecomsitesdefaultfilesimagesuser245717imageroot2017112020171121congressionalcomplaint_0jpg alt gt complaint available full woman alleges conyers sexually harassed asking touch penis find another woman would meet sexual demands conyers also made work nights weekends holidays occasion keep company complaint former employee said conyers repeatedly asked sexual favors often asked join hotel room one occasion alleges conyers asked work room evening arrived congressman started talking sexual desires alleged told needed touch reference penis find woman would meet sexual demands alleged conyers made work nights evenings holidays keep company 160 another incident former employee alleged congressman insisted stay room traveled together fundraising event told would stay alleged told cuddle caress go 160 rep conyers strongly postulated performing personal service favors would looked upon favorably lead salary increases promotions former employee said documents three staff members provided affidavits submitted office compliance outlined pattern behavior conyers included touching woman sexual manner growing angry brought husband around 160 one affidavit former female employee states tasked flying women congressman one duties working rep conyers keep list women assumed affairs call request necessary flown using congressional resources said affidavit second staffer alleged interview conyers used taxpayer resources fly women one male employee corroborated victims claims affidavit said witnessed conyers touch staffers inappropriate sexual manner women office said widely known conyers sexual relationships staff something women felt undermined credibility employee said affidavit conyers also made sexual advances toward driving congressman personal car resting hand stick shift rep conyers reached began caress hand sexual manner 160 woman said told conyers married interested pursuing sexual relationship according affidavit said told many times constituents wellknown conyers sexual relationships staff said female staffers felt undermined credibility 160 personally aware several women experienced similar sexual advances made towards rep john conyers said affidavit 160 male employee wrote witnessed rep conyers rub legs body parts complainant appeared sexual manner saw congressman rub touch women inappropriate manner employee said confronted conyers behavior 160 rep conyers said needed careful bad publicity would helpful runs reelection ended conversation saying would work behavior male staffer said affidavit one reason conyers staffers tolerated behavior buzzfeed points congressmans status civil rights icon something staffers believed insulated criticism also incredibly popular among constituents detroit conyers civil rights icon lauded martin luther king jr founding member congressional black caucus 160 story wont shit said staffer hes untouchable representatives minority leader nancy pelosi former speaker john boehner said lawmakers unaware settlements confidentiality agreements paul ryans office didnt return buzzfeeds request comment help rectify congresss broken system rep speier introduced legislation overhaul complaint process including requiring office compliance publicly name office member enters settlement bill would also allow complainants waive mediation counseling set victims counsel require congressional offices go harassment training every year meantime imagine wont last bombshell disclosure implicating highranking member congress indeed recent trends guide matter time believe republican speiers alluded unmasked read complaint entirety 160 20171121buzzfeed zerohedge scribd ltiframe iddoc_61439 classscribd_iframe_embed title20171121buzzfeed srchttpswwwscribdcomembeds365069117contentstart_page1ampampview_modescrollampampaccess_keykeydp8xpg5w1rfpgxocfphiampampshow_recommendationstrue width100 height600 frameborder0 scrollingno dataautoheightfalse dataaspectratio07729220222793488 datamcefragment1gtltiframegt
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<p>Author’s note: this sermon was preached at Calvary Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, on January 31st as part of a God’s Heart Toward Immigrants worship service.</p>
<p />
<p>The last time I preached in Waco we talked about the ancient confession&#160;embedded&#160;in the book of Deuteronomy:</p>
<p>“A wandering Aramean was my father; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous.”</p>
<p>This history explains the urgency of Leviticus 19: “The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself; for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.”</p>
<p>Then we revisited the first sermon Jesus preached as recorded in the Gospel of Luke: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”</p>
<p>Then we dealt with the last sermon Jesus preached as recorded in Matthew 25: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.”</p>
<p>“I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.” “Stranger” is the English translation of the Greek word “zenos” which can mean “foreigner”, “alien”, “stranger” or all three at once. The two-bit word “xenophobia” refers to fear of the foreigner, the stranger, the zenos.</p>
<p>Jesus isn’t just saying that he loves undocumented aliens and incarcerated felons and that we should do the same. Jesus is saying something much more radical. Just as God was incarnate, enfleshed, in Jesus, so Jesus is incarnate or enfleshed in the undocumented and the incarcerated.</p>
<p>Think of the woman wading the river, driven by dreams of a better life for her family. She is hungry, she is thirsty, she is alone . . . she is Jesus.</p>
<p>Which adds new meaning to this cryptic saying: “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” Of course he doesn’t. The Son of man is a zenos, an undocumented alien, a stranger.</p>
<p>A famous sketch on the British television show “The Mitchell and Webb Look” begins as two officers with the German SS are <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn1VxaMEjRU?feature=player_detailpage&amp;w=640&amp;h=36" type="external">planning their next battle with the Russians</a>.</p>
<p>“Now we’ll see how these communists deal with a crack SS division,” one officer says.</p>
<p>“Hans,” his fellow officer replies, “Have you looked at the badges on our caps recently.”</p>
<p>“What do you mean?”</p>
<p>“Our caps have little pictures of skulls on them.”</p>
<p>“So?”</p>
<p>“Hans, are we the baddies?”</p>
<p>Of course, we are never the baddies; we are always the goodies. We’re programmed to think that way and are virtually incapable of believing otherwise, especially in wartime. So long as we’re drawing lines between goodies and baddies we miss the grace. The idea that Jesus enters the hands, feet and faces of the undocumented and the incarcerated isn’t just a footnote to our faith; it is the heart of the issue.</p>
<p>Latinos are overwhelmingly in favor of compassionate and comprehensive immigration reform. Sixty percent of the Latino electorate knows somebody who could be deported at any moment. A quarter of the Latino electorate has seen a loved one deported.</p>
<p>We say, “What part of illegal do you not understand?” The Latino voter says, “What part of ‘don’t deport my mother’ do you not understand?”</p>
<p>It’s personal. When you are close enough to these brothers and sisters of Jesus to taste the salt in their tears it changes your thinking and your emotions.</p>
<p>Many of us are too cut off from the sorrows of the undocumented and the incarcerated to be touched by their suffering. Our heads are confused because our hearts have gone cold.</p>
<p>The undocumented and the incarcerated get little attention from the pulpit and there’s a good reason for that. Friends of Justice speaks of a “punitive consensus”. Politicians disagree about many things, but for decades our two major parties have been competing to see who can be the toughest on the undocumented and the incarcerated. Compassion and politics don’t mix. While the punitive consensus reigns, the solution to every problem is punishment and exclusion.</p>
<p>You can see this punitive consensus at work on the evening news and in the crime dramas splashed across our sixty-inch television screens. If it takes violence and depravity to sell us soap and soft drinks, that’s what we get. We want to see bad people doing bad things, but we can’t be the baddies, so we get criminals and the foreigners who are violent and depraved and our fear and loathing keeps us glued to the screen.</p>
<p>When the Christian pulpit falls silent, we take our cue from secular politics and entertainment. We buy into the punitive consensus by default and without awareness.</p>
<p>“Do not be conformed to this world,” Scripture says, “but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.”</p>
<p>“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,” the Scripture says, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave . . . And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.”</p>
<p>The bad news: we’re all baddies—every miserable one of us.</p>
<p>The good news: Jesus Christ loves baddies—every miserable one of us.</p>
<p>All human distinctions are obliterated by the cross of Christ—that’s the gospel. When we read the Bible through the lens of Jesus Christ, the grace of God is everywhere: the law, the prophets, the gospels and the epistles become harmonious voices joined in one great Hallelujah chorus.</p>
<p>“Remember,” Paul told the church at Ephesus, “that you (Gentiles) were at one time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers (zenoi) to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.”</p>
<p>If Jesus could break down the wall of hostility separating Jewish and Gentile Christians two thousand years ago, he can erase the artificial lines we have drawn between Anglos, Latinos and African Americans. Jesus can take three divided peoples and mold them into one people.</p>
<p>How do we move from the punitive consensus that cripples our spirituality to a “common peace consensus” where we allow Jesus to erase the lines we have drawn?</p>
<p>We break the silence by finding the courage to take Jesus at his word.</p>
<p>If Jesus Christ comes to us in the hands, feet and faces of undocumented and incarcerated people, we must receive them as brothers and sisters. What other option do we have? How this plays out in your politics is none of my business; but compassion is non-negotiable. Christians surrender their right to a personal opinion when the teaching and example of Jesus is so clear as to be uncontested. If Jesus is our common peace, we must relinquish the weapons of war.</p>
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authors note sermon preached calvary baptist church waco texas january 31st part gods heart toward immigrants worship service last time preached waco talked ancient confession160embedded160in book deuteronomy wandering aramean father went egypt lived alien number became great nation mighty populous history explains urgency leviticus 19 alien resides shall citizen among shall love alien aliens land egypt lord god revisited first sermon jesus preached recorded gospel luke spirit lord upon anointed preach good news poor sent proclaim release captives recovering sight blind set liberty oppressed proclaim acceptable year lord dealt last sermon jesus preached recorded matthew 25 hungry gave food thirsty gave drink stranger welcomed naked clothed sick visited prison came stranger welcomed stranger english translation greek word zenos mean foreigner alien stranger three twobit word xenophobia refers fear foreigner stranger zenos jesus isnt saying loves undocumented aliens incarcerated felons jesus saying something much radical god incarnate enfleshed jesus jesus incarnate enfleshed undocumented incarcerated think woman wading river driven dreams better life family hungry thirsty alone jesus adds new meaning cryptic saying foxes holes birds air nests son man nowhere lay head course doesnt son man zenos undocumented alien stranger famous sketch british television show mitchell webb look begins two officers german ss planning next battle russians well see communists deal crack ss division one officer says hans fellow officer replies looked badges caps recently mean caps little pictures skulls hans baddies course never baddies always goodies programmed think way virtually incapable believing otherwise especially wartime long drawing lines goodies baddies miss grace idea jesus enters hands feet faces undocumented incarcerated isnt footnote faith heart issue latinos overwhelmingly favor compassionate comprehensive immigration reform sixty percent latino electorate knows somebody could deported moment quarter latino electorate seen loved one deported say part illegal understand latino voter says part dont deport mother understand personal close enough brothers sisters jesus taste salt tears changes thinking emotions many us cut sorrows undocumented incarcerated touched suffering heads confused hearts gone cold undocumented incarcerated get little attention pulpit theres good reason friends justice speaks punitive consensus politicians disagree many things decades two major parties competing see toughest undocumented incarcerated compassion politics dont mix punitive consensus reigns solution every problem punishment exclusion see punitive consensus work evening news crime dramas splashed across sixtyinch television screens takes violence depravity sell us soap soft drinks thats get want see bad people bad things cant baddies get criminals foreigners violent depraved fear loathing keeps us glued screen christian pulpit falls silent take cue secular politics entertainment buy punitive consensus default without awareness conformed world scripture says transformed renewing minds let mind christ jesus scripture says though form god regard equality god something exploited emptied taking form slave found human form humbled became obedient point deatheven death cross bad news baddiesevery miserable one us good news jesus christ loves baddiesevery miserable one us human distinctions obliterated cross christthats gospel read bible lens jesus christ grace god everywhere law prophets gospels epistles become harmonious voices joined one great hallelujah chorus remember paul told church ephesus gentiles one time without christ aliens commonwealth israel strangers zenoi covenants promise hope without god world christ jesus far brought near blood christ peace flesh made groups one broken dividing wall hostility us jesus could break wall hostility separating jewish gentile christians two thousand years ago erase artificial lines drawn anglos latinos african americans jesus take three divided peoples mold one people move punitive consensus cripples spirituality common peace consensus allow jesus erase lines drawn break silence finding courage take jesus word jesus christ comes us hands feet faces undocumented incarcerated people must receive brothers sisters option plays politics none business compassion nonnegotiable christians surrender right personal opinion teaching example jesus clear uncontested jesus common peace must relinquish weapons war 160 160
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<p>Like Marlo, the Northern Virginian mentioned in the last column [Herald, July 26], 12 million undocumented immigrants expect lawmakers to be active and bold.</p>
<p>Nobody should think — and that includes lawmakers — that illegal aliens are in this situation because of their choice. If given the option, I dare to predict all of them would welcome the possibility of becoming law-abiding citizens of this country. Given the opportunity, all illegal immigrants want to establish legal citizenship. The problem is they are not given the opportunity. They are being asked to wash our dishes, to mow our lawns, to care for our children, to clean our houses, but in return they are not given the possibility to become citizens.</p>
<p>Most of the undocumented immigrants are undocumented because of a thousand and one circumstances that have made them be the way they are. Need, hunger, lack of possibilities in their own places, draw people away from their homelands to find “nuevos horizontes” (new horizons). The problem is that now, when they have found a new homeland, that homeland is not opening its doors to them. They are accepted outdoors, they are not welcome indoors.</p>
<p>The trip is not free for any of them. In their way to a new life they find themselves estranged, abused, ill-treated, harassed, annoyed. Many of them die of thirst or just weariness in the Arizona desert. The worst thing for them is not deportation; it is lack of resources, poverty, disease and death. When they come to our lands they have nothing to lose. They have left behind their families and friends, it's true, but they come with the hope of finding a new life, one that will help them personally, and through them, their whole families back home. If believers, they claim on themselves the Abramic promise: “I will bless you … so that you will be a blessing” (Gn 12:2). They come after a hope, and they are not going to abandon that hope just because some laws are written against them.</p>
<p>I am not trying to instruct lawmakers, but the situation has become urgent. The lack of provisions in the laws of the United States of America for a person in this situation to become a citizen is a burden not only to the undocumented, but also to all sorts of citizens who are in one way or another related or dependent on their lives, their labor, their activities, their jobs and their abilities, including “law abiding” employers and customers who enjoy their cheap services.</p>
<p>A further worrisome matter is the long delays in processing applications in cases that are legally provided by the law. Because of long delays, people who are in good standing come to be in bad standing. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people are out of status not by their commission, rather due to bureaucratic delays and red tape.</p>
<p>Lawmakers must do something. There are roads, however, the lawmakers do not want to take.</p>
<p>The worst thing a lawmaker can do is to legislate under fear. National security is best served when freedom is allowed, when human rights are respected and when people are promoted to higher levels of personal development. Classifying people by race or national origin does not help either the classified or the one who classifies.</p>
<p>Lawmakers should also avoid falling into the trap of legislating to their own counties. The example of Prince William County, in Virginia, or Hazleton, Pa., should not be followed elsewhere. Addressing illegal immigration in your “corner of America” will not solve the problems of the United States — nor will it solve the problems of your corner of America.</p>
<p>International migration is a social phenomenon that crosses national borders and affects two or more nation-states. To understand the problem and provide veritable solutions, lawmakers need to be capable of transcending the local and national gaze. This is true more than ever in the current epoch of global migratory flows. Yet national and local approaches, deriving from historical projects of nation building, are often dominant. Solutions for a particular country, in this case the United States, should not be divorced from global relations and agreements. National and international problems should be resolved on a national and international scale.</p>
<p>Finally, lawmakers should not legislate as if the only people who are breaking immigration laws are the illegal immigrants. They break the law, conceded. Yet, there are many “law abiding” citizens who find loopholes in the system in order to attract illegal aliens. When so many people are “breaking the law,” isn't it time to change these outdated and inefficient laws? When Jesus said that “the Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath” (Mk 2:27), I presume he was referring to all forms of human legislation. Laws should never defeat humanity, but promote it. Laws need to respond to human needs. When human needs change, laws need to change. The 20th century has been described as the century of migrations. Yet our laws still resemble the old paradigms, and respond to old needs.</p>
<p>Walter Tejada, a member of the Arlington County Board and founding chairman of the Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations, asked:</p>
<p>“How do we teach our children about opportunity when lifelong friends are denied the right to go to college even if qualified?</p>
<p>“How do we deny gangs fertile recruiting grounds when youngsters are told that they cannot seek technical training to get a decent job?</p>
<p>“What do we say to friends and family when they are subjected to discriminatory treatment at the Department of Motor Vehicles or when they seek Medicaid for a parent or relative who is entering a nursing home?</p>
<p>“How do we say that we are humane when an immigrant working on a highway or farm is killed on the job but isn't entitled to even the $1,000 workers' compensation transportation benefit that could help send his body home?”</p>
<p>It is due time for lawmakers to resort to information and creativity. The immigration issue is not exclusive to the United States. Other countries are experiencing the same influx. Some of the laws of countries in Europe, Asia and Australia are to be studied carefully. Minds and spirits need to be called to working together to find a true solution to these problems. These are difficult themes but not impossible. If we abandon all sense of prerogative and pride, perhaps we will find an acceptable solution: one that is human, one that understands and not denigrates, one that will open the flame of liberty for all.</p>
<p>Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!</p>
<p>Amen.</p>
<p>Daniel Carro is coordinator of the Latino Network of Virginia Baptists and professor of divinity at the John Leland Center for Theological Studies in Falls Church. This article appears online at EthicsDaily.com.</p>
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like marlo northern virginian mentioned last column herald july 26 12 million undocumented immigrants expect lawmakers active bold nobody think includes lawmakers illegal aliens situation choice given option dare predict would welcome possibility becoming lawabiding citizens country given opportunity illegal immigrants want establish legal citizenship problem given opportunity asked wash dishes mow lawns care children clean houses return given possibility become citizens undocumented immigrants undocumented thousand one circumstances made way need hunger lack possibilities places draw people away homelands find nuevos horizontes new horizons problem found new homeland homeland opening doors accepted outdoors welcome indoors trip free way new life find estranged abused illtreated harassed annoyed many die thirst weariness arizona desert worst thing deportation lack resources poverty disease death come lands nothing lose left behind families friends true come hope finding new life one help personally whole families back home believers claim abramic promise bless blessing gn 122 come hope going abandon hope laws written trying instruct lawmakers situation become urgent lack provisions laws united states america person situation become citizen burden undocumented also sorts citizens one way another related dependent lives labor activities jobs abilities including law abiding employers customers enjoy cheap services worrisome matter long delays processing applications cases legally provided law long delays people good standing come bad standing hundreds thousands people status commission rather due bureaucratic delays red tape lawmakers must something roads however lawmakers want take worst thing lawmaker legislate fear national security best served freedom allowed human rights respected people promoted higher levels personal development classifying people race national origin help either classified one classifies lawmakers also avoid falling trap legislating counties example prince william county virginia hazleton pa followed elsewhere addressing illegal immigration corner america solve problems united states solve problems corner america international migration social phenomenon crosses national borders affects two nationstates understand problem provide veritable solutions lawmakers need capable transcending local national gaze true ever current epoch global migratory flows yet national local approaches deriving historical projects nation building often dominant solutions particular country case united states divorced global relations agreements national international problems resolved national international scale finally lawmakers legislate people breaking immigration laws illegal immigrants break law conceded yet many law abiding citizens find loopholes system order attract illegal aliens many people breaking law isnt time change outdated inefficient laws jesus said sabbath made humankind humankind sabbath mk 227 presume referring forms human legislation laws never defeat humanity promote laws need respond human needs human needs change laws need change 20th century described century migrations yet laws still resemble old paradigms respond old needs walter tejada member arlington county board founding chairman virginia coalition latino organizations asked teach children opportunity lifelong friends denied right go college even qualified deny gangs fertile recruiting grounds youngsters told seek technical training get decent job say friends family subjected discriminatory treatment department motor vehicles seek medicaid parent relative entering nursing home say humane immigrant working highway farm killed job isnt entitled even 1000 workers compensation transportation benefit could help send body home due time lawmakers resort information creativity immigration issue exclusive united states countries experiencing influx laws countries europe asia australia studied carefully minds spirits need called working together find true solution problems difficult themes impossible abandon sense prerogative pride perhaps find acceptable solution one human one understands denigrates one open flame liberty give tired poor huddled masses yearning breathe free wretched refuse teeming shore send homeless tempesttost lift lamp beside golden door amen daniel carro coordinator latino network virginia baptists professor divinity john leland center theological studies falls church article appears online ethicsdailycom
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<p>SACRAMENTO – A federal appeals court last week has taken the highly unusual step of finding a U.S. constitutional cause of action in a challenge to a California state law – the latest wrinkle in a long-running and bitter dispute between a farm workers’ union and two large Central Valley fruit growers.</p>
<p>The California Legislature approved a law last year that was designed to protect the state’s businesses after two court decisions left them open to unforeseen liabilities regarding the minimum wage. The measure, <a href="http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/15-16/bill/asm/ab_1501-1550/ab_1513_bill_20151010_chaptered.html" type="external">Assembly Bill 1513</a>, passed by solid majorities, was a sign of concern about broad economic harm if companies who had acted in good faith were forced to pay various fines for some commonly accepted payment practices.</p>
<p>This legislative overhaul of the state’s wage-and-hour law waived all penalties if, by this Thursday, the companies paid their piece-rate workers back wages for any unpaid rest periods. The legislation would have been largely noncontroversial, except that it included carve-outs for two Fresno-based fruit growers – Fowler Packing Co. and Gerawan Farming. In other words, the law apparently applied to every California business, except for these particular companies, both of which had run afoul of a union.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/15-16/bill/asm/ab_1501-1550/ab_1513_bill_20151010_chaptered.html" type="external">According to AB1513’s language</a>, the bill does not apply to “Claims for paid rest or recovery periods or pay for other nonproductive time that were made in any case filed prior to April 1, 2015, when the case contained by that date an allegation that the employer has intentionally stolen, diminished, or otherwise deprived employees of wages through the use of fictitious worker names or names of workers that were not actually working.” That portion exempts the two companies because of an allegation made in a lawsuit.</p>
<p>These two firms allege that they were exempted from the benefits of the new law because the UFW had threatened to otherwise oppose the legislation, <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article56109005.html" type="external">according to a Sacramento Bee report</a>. The measure, by the way, was pushed through at the end of the legislative session as a “gut-and-amend” deal – language was stripped out of an existing bill and replaced at the last minute with new language. Such bills circumvent requirements for a full set of hearings and legislative vetting.</p>
<p>The district court dismissed the companies’ complaint. But in the recent ruling, the U.S. 9th District Court of Appeals partially reversed that decision and sent it back for further review.</p>
<p>Although the written opinion is still forthcoming, this is a significant ruling that focuses attention on the concept of equal protection, which was the main allegation made in the lawsuit. As their complaint argued, a key section of the law “not only arbitrarily excludes and punishes one employer based solely on an unproven allegation. It arbitrarily includes and protects employers, alleged to have used ghost workers, so long as they were sued after April 1, 2015. … (T)he ghost worker allegation carve-out is simply a mechanism to subject Fowler to disparate and punitive legislative treatment based solely on an allegation of wrongdoing.”</p>
<p>The appeals court, however, rejected the farms’ claim that the law had violated&#160; <a href="http://www.dictionary.com/browse/bill-of-attainder" type="external">“bill of attainder”</a>&#160;provisions in the U.S. Constitution. That refers to an act by any legislature&#160;that inflicts punishment without the protections of due process or judicial review – i.e., “trial by legislature.”&#160;&#160;The plaintiffs had argued that the California Legislature exempted those companies based on some union allegations and was a form of punishment against them, in that it singled out Fowler and Gerawan, and did so without any legitimate, non-punitive purpose.</p>
<p>“By denying those employers the protection that every other employer enjoys, the Legislature essentially adjudged them to be guilty of egregious conduct. But the Constitution does not give legislatures the power to determine guilt, it grants that authority to courts,” explained the Pacific Legal Foundation’s Wencong Fa, in a <a href="http://blog.pacificlegal.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Fresno-suit-Article.pdf" type="external">column in the San Francisco Daily Journal</a>. The foundation had filed an amicus brief on behalf of the companies and several farm organizations including the California Farm Bureau and Western Grower.</p>
<p>The Fowler and Gerawan labor disputes have been a long-running California saga. The UFW has had a variety of disputes with Fowler. In the Gerawan situation, the company says the UFW had re-emerged at the farm after a long hiatus, claiming to be the rightful representative of the farm workers there. The state Agricultural Labor Relations Board <a href="https://www.wga.com/press-releases/press-release-farm-groups-join-oppose-ufw-safe-harbor-exclusion-clause-piece-rate" type="external">had refused to even count the ballots in a union de-certification election there</a> – and imposed a <a href="http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/sdut-sacramento-farmers-laborers-ALRB-election-2015feb04-story.html" type="external">seemingly unwanted contract</a> on workers there. It’s become a national news story and litigation continues.</p>
<p>AB1513 was supported even by some agricultural organizations because of the advantages it provides to the industry in general. There’s little disagreement it was the result of tough negotiations – a point the Brown administration has made in support for the law. But that doesn’t mean Fowler and Gerawan don’t make a valid argument. The new law could be of overall benefit to most California agricultural companies while still unfairly singling out two companies involved in disputes with one of the groups involved in those negotiations.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/15-16/bill/asm/ab_1501-1550/ab_1513_cfa_20150911_223727_asm_floor.html" type="external">The official Assembly bill analysis puts the issue in perspective</a>: “Supporters argue that this bill is a fair compromise for both employers and workers, addressing a situation where there was a significant development in case law. … Opponents argue that these arbitrary provisions set forth a troubling precedent that represents political targeting that sacrifices some companies to continued legal exposure in exchange for legal protections afforded to others.”</p>
<p>Fowler and Gerawan asked the state to suspend enforcement of this week’s deadline pending the outcome of the case as the federal courts take the rare step of reviewing a constitutional challenge to piece of state legislation.&#160;</p>
<p>Steven Greenhut is Western region director for the R Street Institute. Write to him at [email protected].</p>
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sacramento federal appeals court last week taken highly unusual step finding us constitutional cause action challenge california state law latest wrinkle longrunning bitter dispute farm workers union two large central valley fruit growers california legislature approved law last year designed protect states businesses two court decisions left open unforeseen liabilities regarding minimum wage measure assembly bill 1513 passed solid majorities sign concern broad economic harm companies acted good faith forced pay various fines commonly accepted payment practices legislative overhaul states wageandhour law waived penalties thursday companies paid piecerate workers back wages unpaid rest periods legislation would largely noncontroversial except included carveouts two fresnobased fruit growers fowler packing co gerawan farming words law apparently applied every california business except particular companies run afoul union according ab1513s language bill apply claims paid rest recovery periods pay nonproductive time made case filed prior april 1 2015 case contained date allegation employer intentionally stolen diminished otherwise deprived employees wages use fictitious worker names names workers actually working portion exempts two companies allegation made lawsuit two firms allege exempted benefits new law ufw threatened otherwise oppose legislation according sacramento bee report measure way pushed end legislative session gutandamend deal language stripped existing bill replaced last minute new language bills circumvent requirements full set hearings legislative vetting district court dismissed companies complaint recent ruling us 9th district court appeals partially reversed decision sent back review although written opinion still forthcoming significant ruling focuses attention concept equal protection main allegation made lawsuit complaint argued key section law arbitrarily excludes punishes one employer based solely unproven allegation arbitrarily includes protects employers alleged used ghost workers long sued april 1 2015 ghost worker allegation carveout simply mechanism subject fowler disparate punitive legislative treatment based solely allegation wrongdoing appeals court however rejected farms claim law violated160 bill attainder160provisions us constitution refers act legislature160that inflicts punishment without protections due process judicial review ie trial legislature160160the plaintiffs argued california legislature exempted companies based union allegations form punishment singled fowler gerawan without legitimate nonpunitive purpose denying employers protection every employer enjoys legislature essentially adjudged guilty egregious conduct constitution give legislatures power determine guilt grants authority courts explained pacific legal foundations wencong fa column san francisco daily journal foundation filed amicus brief behalf companies several farm organizations including california farm bureau western grower fowler gerawan labor disputes longrunning california saga ufw variety disputes fowler gerawan situation company says ufw reemerged farm long hiatus claiming rightful representative farm workers state agricultural labor relations board refused even count ballots union decertification election imposed seemingly unwanted contract workers become national news story litigation continues ab1513 supported even agricultural organizations advantages provides industry general theres little disagreement result tough negotiations point brown administration made support law doesnt mean fowler gerawan dont make valid argument new law could overall benefit california agricultural companies still unfairly singling two companies involved disputes one groups involved negotiations official assembly bill analysis puts issue perspective supporters argue bill fair compromise employers workers addressing situation significant development case law opponents argue arbitrary provisions set forth troubling precedent represents political targeting sacrifices companies continued legal exposure exchange legal protections afforded others fowler gerawan asked state suspend enforcement weeks deadline pending outcome case federal courts take rare step reviewing constitutional challenge piece state legislation160 steven greenhut western region director r street institute write sgreenhutrstreetorg
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<p>BRUSSELS, Belgium — Obama wants it. So do Hollande, Cameron and Merkel.</p>
<p>Supporters of plans for a free-trade agreement between the United States and the European Union say it could inject an additional $200 billion a year into economies on both sides of the Atlantic.</p>
<p>That could strengthen the world's largest economic partnership, boost global growth and set the standard for international trade agreements, providing a strong incentive for China and other emerging economies to fall in line.</p>
<p>"This has been out there as the Holy Grail of trade deals for decades, but no one has been willing to really go for it — until now," says John Clancy, the European Commission's trade spokesman.</p>
<p>"What's changed?” he said in an interview. “Basically the stars have aligned."</p>
<p>"Europe and the United States need to firm up the recovery and this is one way of doing it that doesn't cost a cent of taxpayers' money. It's stimulus without having to put your hand into the government till."</p>
<p>Talks to form the world's biggest free trade zone are expected to begin within the first half of this year with the goal of wrapping up a deal within two years.</p>
<p>Despite bold words from US and European leaders when the news was announced last week, however, the reality may be far less splendid. Such deals depend less on grand visions and more on haggling over the minutiae of product standards, veterinary safety or hidden subsidies.</p>
<p>Those apparently minor issues may appear arcane set against the headline-grabbing potential benefits, but once in the hands of entrenched lobby groups, they can be inflated into vital national interests. To prevent them derailing a deal, both sides will require skilled negotiations and a hither-to-unseen level of compromise that, according to one German study, would raise living standards by 5 percent in the United States and 6 percent in Europe over the next two decades.</p>
<p>Agriculture is a traditional stumbling bloc for trans-Atlantic trade. European officials say recent reforms to the EU's $80 billion farm support program should make it easier for the Americans to swallow, but there are plenty of other problems — from European distrust of health standards in the US food industry to American wariness of Europe's cherished protection of traditional food labeling.</p>
<p>Will Wisconsin dairy farmers accept that only cheese produced in five provinces of northern Italy can carry the name parmesan? Will the French agree to tuck into hormone-infused American beef with a side of genetically modified fries?</p>
<p>The EU's first free-trade agreement in 1999 — governing $19 billion worth of annual trade with South Africa — was almost scuppered by a dispute over port wine and sherry, until the South Africans backed down and agreed that only tipples from Portugal and Spain could carry those labels. Napa Valley port producers may face a fight.</p>
<p>There are plenty of other sensitive areas, from US qualms about foreign airlines operating in domestic airspace to European demands for "cultural exceptions" to protect movie, TV and music industries.</p>
<p>European negotiators must be given an "extremely clear and unambiguous mandate, expressly excluding from the negotiations all cultural and audiovisual goods and services, whatever their means of distribution, on the Internet, or not," said a statement Tuesday from the French Coalition for Cultural Diversity, which represents filmmakers and other cultural industries.</p>
<p>Despite such ominous opening shots, several business leaders on both sides have welcomed the trade deal decision and its ambitious timetable.</p>
<p>"Change is always a challenge,” says Michelle Gibbons, chair of the EU-US Task Force at American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union. “We are used to doing things our own way on both sides of the Atlantic."</p>
<p>However, she sees a new commitment to overcome the differences. "There is a political willingness on both sides to put everything on the table,” she said. “It’s a question of the devil is in the detail, but there is such opportunity for the jobs and growth agenda."</p>
<p>Officials on both sides are focusing on the positive, emphasizing that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership — as the proposed agreement is called — will go beyond traditional tariff cutting to set up common business rules and recognition of each others' standards.</p>
<p>Officials say that could save companies billions in red tape. For instance, automakers selling in Europe and the United States would need to comply with only one set of safety standards instead of having to adapt vehicles to meet European and American regulations.</p>
<p>"Our main focus has to be to tackle those barriers which are behind the customs border — such as differences in technical regulations, standards and certifications," EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said last week. "Such barriers are estimated to be equivalent to slapping a traditional tariff on a product of between 10 and 20 percent — so the current cost to business and consumers is high."</p>
<p>The United States and the 27-member EU already make up the world's largest commercial relationship, worth $2.7 billion in everyday goods and services, almost a third of global trade. Tariffs are already low by world standards, averaging around 4 percent.</p>
<p>Americans and Europeans also have $3.7 trillion invested in each others' economies.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/health/130220/patient-killed-sars-virus-the-uk" type="external">Patient killed by SARS-like virus in the UK</a></p>
<p>Both sides deny the decision to aim for a bilateral mega-deal recognizes the failure of the long stalled efforts to strike a global trade liberalization package under the so-called Doha Round of talks launched by the World Trade Organization in 2001.</p>
<p>"It's a recognition that multilateralism is somewhat stuck," says Clancy, the EU spokesman. "Of course this is a bilateral deal, but it's a bilateral deal that supports setting standards in global trade rules, enshrining those within the WTO church. That's ultimately the goal."</p>
<p>The EU-US deal also has a geopolitical dimension. Stronger economic bonds between the Western powers could counter the rise of China and other emerging powers.</p>
<p>They hope the trans-Atlantic agreement will set international benchmarks on issues such as public procurement, environment and labor standards and intellectual property rights that will be hard for the Chinese not to follow.&#160;</p>
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brussels belgium obama wants hollande cameron merkel supporters plans freetrade agreement united states european union say could inject additional 200 billion year economies sides atlantic could strengthen worlds largest economic partnership boost global growth set standard international trade agreements providing strong incentive china emerging economies fall line holy grail trade deals decades one willing really go says john clancy european commissions trade spokesman whats changed said interview basically stars aligned europe united states need firm recovery one way doesnt cost cent taxpayers money stimulus without put hand government till talks form worlds biggest free trade zone expected begin within first half year goal wrapping deal within two years despite bold words us european leaders news announced last week however reality may far less splendid deals depend less grand visions haggling minutiae product standards veterinary safety hidden subsidies apparently minor issues may appear arcane set headlinegrabbing potential benefits hands entrenched lobby groups inflated vital national interests prevent derailing deal sides require skilled negotiations hithertounseen level compromise according one german study would raise living standards 5 percent united states 6 percent europe next two decades agriculture traditional stumbling bloc transatlantic trade european officials say recent reforms eus 80 billion farm support program make easier americans swallow plenty problems european distrust health standards us food industry american wariness europes cherished protection traditional food labeling wisconsin dairy farmers accept cheese produced five provinces northern italy carry name parmesan french agree tuck hormoneinfused american beef side genetically modified fries eus first freetrade agreement 1999 governing 19 billion worth annual trade south africa almost scuppered dispute port wine sherry south africans backed agreed tipples portugal spain could carry labels napa valley port producers may face fight plenty sensitive areas us qualms foreign airlines operating domestic airspace european demands cultural exceptions protect movie tv music industries european negotiators must given extremely clear unambiguous mandate expressly excluding negotiations cultural audiovisual goods services whatever means distribution internet said statement tuesday french coalition cultural diversity represents filmmakers cultural industries despite ominous opening shots several business leaders sides welcomed trade deal decision ambitious timetable change always challenge says michelle gibbons chair euus task force american chamber commerce european union used things way sides atlantic however sees new commitment overcome differences political willingness sides put everything table said question devil detail opportunity jobs growth agenda officials sides focusing positive emphasizing transatlantic trade investment partnership proposed agreement called go beyond traditional tariff cutting set common business rules recognition others standards officials say could save companies billions red tape instance automakers selling europe united states would need comply one set safety standards instead adapt vehicles meet european american regulations main focus tackle barriers behind customs border differences technical regulations standards certifications eu trade commissioner karel de gucht said last week barriers estimated equivalent slapping traditional tariff product 10 20 percent current cost business consumers high united states 27member eu already make worlds largest commercial relationship worth 27 billion everyday goods services almost third global trade tariffs already low world standards averaging around 4 percent americans europeans also 37 trillion invested others economies globalpost160 patient killed sarslike virus uk sides deny decision aim bilateral megadeal recognizes failure long stalled efforts strike global trade liberalization package socalled doha round talks launched world trade organization 2001 recognition multilateralism somewhat stuck says clancy eu spokesman course bilateral deal bilateral deal supports setting standards global trade rules enshrining within wto church thats ultimately goal euus deal also geopolitical dimension stronger economic bonds western powers could counter rise china emerging powers hope transatlantic agreement set international benchmarks issues public procurement environment labor standards intellectual property rights hard chinese follow160
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<p>Don't mess with Principal Miller.&#160;Cheryl Miller is the principal of the Baton Rouge Foreign Language Academic Immersion Magnet —&#160;they call it Baton Rouge FLAIM for short — and walking around the school she exudes authority.</p>
<p>It’s never “yes” when you address Ms. Miller,&#160;it’s “Yes, ma’am.” Miller's been principal at FLAIM for the last 16 years.&#160;</p>
<p>FLAIM is part of East Baton Rouge Parish School System, the largest school system&#160;in the state. The district is also party to&#160;one of the longest desegregation cases in the country, lasting 47 years.&#160;For that reason, FLAIM&#160;has undergone many changes throughout its history.&#160;It was once a white-only school, then it became all-black, and then, under the&#160;desegregation order, the school eventually became a foreign language magnet.</p>
<p>At FLAIM, French and Spanish immersion programs were used as the proverbial "carrot" to draw&#160;middle class families back into the&#160;public school system.&#160;It wasn't an immediate draw, says Miller.</p>
<p>“Believe it or not some people would look at the building and say, how shall I say, some white&#160;— mostly white women,&#160;would say ...&#160;'Oh, it looks terrible!' And it did,” says Miller.</p>
<p>It’s true. The school facilities aren't the best looking. The gym is ancient. You can see the pipes hanging down from&#160;the ceilings.&#160;It's an old school.&#160;But in the end, language has proven&#160;to be able to hide that old&#160;building. &#160;</p>
<p />
<p>The hallways at Baton Rouge FLAIM are papered with children's drawings and school work&#160;in French and Spanish.&#160;</p>
<p>Nina Porzucki</p>
<p>“We had to make sure that we met the racial quota. For us they said 60/40, which would be 60 black, 40 white,” says Miller.</p>
<p>The school met that quota.&#160;The school system's&#160; <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;ved=0CB8QFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.coweninstitute.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F08%2FLouisiana-Desegregation-Case-Studies.pdf&amp;ei=zTmMVZC_NMnh-QHfq6_ICw&amp;usg=AFQjCNEhvJNw354VsxMOMjpjY_hXyhqMXg&amp;sig2=leXn4AJqEt37GQdaBmsizQ&amp;bvm=bv.96782255,d.cWw" type="external">desegregation order officially ended in 2003</a> and the school continues to draw a diverse student body.&#160;However there are many lingering questions, like from parents Kerii and Carlos Thomas.</p>
<p>“The magnet programs are to magnetize middle class families. Well, in the Deep South, middle class families pretty much equate to white families.&#160;And so to be middle class and African American, it was kind of like where will we fit in?” asks Thomas.</p>
<p>The Thomases&#160;wanted their son to learn French.&#160;Kerii grew up in Lafayette, the heart of French-speaking Louisiana. Her parents and grandparents spoke Creole French. When they first moved to Baton Rouge, they enrolled him in&#160;a private International school that offered immersion education. Then&#160;they heard about FLAIM.</p>
<p>The&#160;decision to put their son in public school was a no-brainer, says Carlos Thomas.</p>
<p>“As black, middle class parents in a system where 80 percent&#160;of the kids are on free and reduced lunch, that sends a message that we want to invest in our public institution,” he adds.</p>
<p>Except little Carlos didn’t get in. Instead, he was entered into a lottery.</p>
<p>“I was frantic because we really wanted to continue the immersion program,” says Kerii Thomas. “I emailed the principal, emailed the superintendent, called and spoke to people.”</p>
<p>Little Carlos was lucky.&#160;He won the lottery and a place at the school.&#160;Despite her emails and phone calls, Kerii doesn't feel that he&#160;received any preferential treatment.&#160;But it did make her wonder about the equality of enrollment in this and other magnet programs.</p>
<p>“When I look back on it now, while I'm excited that he got in, there's also a realization that not everybody can advocate that way for their child,” she says.</p>
<p />
<p>French teacher, Madame Sizemore welcomes her students into the classroom every morning with a "Bonjour!" and a handshake.&#160;</p>
<p>Nina Porzucki</p>
<p>This model is far from perfect.&#160;There are clear equality issues when it comes to who gets to go to FLAIM.&#160;And then you walk into the school itself. Go into any classroom and, on the face of it, FLAIM has achieved a diverse student body. Yet it's not quotas or lotteries or desegregation orders or even balanced enrollment that has created a feeling of diversity and equality inside the classroom.&#160;It's language, says parent Benterah Martin.</p>
<p>“I believe that when children learn more languages, it's harder for them to be a bigot,” says Morton.</p>
<p>Learning a new language exposes kids to different ways of thinking and speaking, Morton explains. And it also dismantles something academics call "the language of power."&#160; That language of power is the standard English we all learn in school. It's the language of textbooks, it's white, middle class English.&#160;But at FLAIM that's not the case,&#160;says education professor Heather Olsen Beal.</p>
<p>“The language of power is not standard, edited English and it's not largely white, middle class women that are trying to impose that on their student population. The immersion curriculum makes it so that there are two languages of power — and that is Spanish and French," says Beal. "Those are both languages that none of the students come to the school knowing."</p>
<p>Everyone is starting at zero. Even many of the teachers, says Beal, don't speak English fluently. They are language learners too. Different isn't one person or one group. Different is everyone.</p>
<p />
<p>Sixty to seventy percent of the school day is taught in the target language of either French or Spanish. &#160;This includes subjects like math and science. &#160;</p>
<p>Nina Porzucki</p>
<p>“What happens when that is just part of their way of life?&#160;You go to a school and the teacher starts speaking to you in a different language and you're going to school with all these kids that look different than you —&#160;that's sort of the mission of public education,” Beal says.</p>
<p>Morning assembly is well underway and Principal Miller watches her students closely, keeping the fifth graders in line with a&#160;withering look,&#160;encouraging the kindergartners to stand up straight, all the time beaming a firm but encouraging smile. These are all her kids.</p>
<p>“We're different and sometimes we just got to understand that just because we're different doesn't mean we can't be together. And that's not a usual view in the Deep South,” says Miller.</p>
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dont mess principal miller160cheryl miller principal baton rouge foreign language academic immersion magnet 160they call baton rouge flaim short walking around school exudes authority never yes address ms miller160its yes maam millers principal flaim last 16 years160 flaim part east baton rouge parish school system largest school system160in state district also party to160one longest desegregation cases country lasting 47 years160for reason flaim160has undergone many changes throughout history160it whiteonly school became allblack the160desegregation order school eventually became foreign language magnet flaim french spanish immersion programs used proverbial carrot draw160middle class families back the160public school system160it wasnt immediate draw says miller believe people would look building say shall say white160 mostly white women160would say 160oh looks terrible says miller true school facilities arent best looking gym ancient see pipes hanging from160the ceilings160its old school160but end language proven160to able hide old160building 160 hallways baton rouge flaim papered childrens drawings school work160in french spanish160 nina porzucki make sure met racial quota us said 6040 would 60 black 40 white says miller school met quota160the school systems160 desegregation order officially ended 2003 school continues draw diverse student body160however many lingering questions like parents kerii carlos thomas magnet programs magnetize middle class families well deep south middle class families pretty much equate white families160and middle class african american kind like fit asks thomas thomases160wanted son learn french160kerii grew lafayette heart frenchspeaking louisiana parents grandparents spoke creole french first moved baton rouge enrolled in160a private international school offered immersion education then160they heard flaim the160decision put son public school nobrainer says carlos thomas black middle class parents system 80 percent160of kids free reduced lunch sends message want invest public institution adds except little carlos didnt get instead entered lottery frantic really wanted continue immersion program says kerii thomas emailed principal emailed superintendent called spoke people little carlos lucky160he lottery place school160despite emails phone calls kerii doesnt feel he160received preferential treatment160but make wonder equality enrollment magnet programs look back im excited got theres also realization everybody advocate way child says french teacher madame sizemore welcomes students classroom every morning bonjour handshake160 nina porzucki model far perfect160there clear equality issues comes gets go flaim160and walk school go classroom face flaim achieved diverse student body yet quotas lotteries desegregation orders even balanced enrollment created feeling diversity equality inside classroom160its language says parent benterah martin believe children learn languages harder bigot says morton learning new language exposes kids different ways thinking speaking morton explains also dismantles something academics call language power160 language power standard english learn school language textbooks white middle class english160but flaim thats case160says education professor heather olsen beal language power standard edited english largely white middle class women trying impose student population immersion curriculum makes two languages power spanish french says beal languages none students come school knowing everyone starting zero even many teachers says beal dont speak english fluently language learners different isnt one person one group different everyone sixty seventy percent school day taught target language either french spanish 160this includes subjects like math science 160 nina porzucki happens part way life160you go school teacher starts speaking different language youre going school kids look different 160thats sort mission public education beal says morning assembly well underway principal miller watches students closely keeping fifth graders line a160withering look160encouraging kindergartners stand straight time beaming firm encouraging smile kids different sometimes got understand different doesnt mean cant together thats usual view deep south says miller
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<p>NEW HIRES Chuck Burbridge, deputy chief fiscal officer, was deputy CFO for Cook County Bureau of Finance. Salary: $97,000. … Chris Hoagland, first deputy budget director, was assistant city budget director. Salary: $80,000. … Elaine Ferguson, director of Employee Health Services, was a private physician at American International Hospital. Salary: $80,000. … Andrea Kerr, director of academic program improvement, was principal of Mollison Elementary. Salary: $75,000.</p>
<p>NEW HIRES, CONTINUED The following administrators continue in their previous jobs: Walter Allen, director of Funded Programs; Fred Chesek, coordinator of Teachers for Chicago; Andrew Gilchrist, controller; Patricia Ann Johnson, coordinator of Teachers for Chicago; Alice Perez Peters, director of Language and Culture; Alvin Peterson, director of Equal Educational Opportunity Programs; Velma Thomas, director of Early Childhood Education.</p>
<p>REGION FACILITATORS The following have been appointed region facilitators for the Office of School and Community Relations. They are responsible for conflict management, coordinating LSC elections and providing liaison among the board, schools, community organizations and LSCs. Region 1: Ada Lopez, former co-director, Office for Reform. Region 2: Dolores Guerrero, former District 5 administrator. Region 3: James Deanes, former president, Parent Community Council. Region 4: William Davis, facilitator, Office of Funded Programs. Region 5: Beverly Butler, former coordinator, Office for Reform. Region 6. Estella Jarrett, former co-director, Office for Reform.</p>
<p>WEEKLY REFORM UPDATES The CityWide Coalition for School Reform is faxing weekly updates of school reform news and events. To get on the list or provide information, contact Grace Troccolo at (312) 431-8452.</p>
<p>DISPUTE RESOLUTION The Illinois Institute for Dispute Resolution is sponsoring a two-day workshop, “Creating the Peaceable School” on Jan. 30-31 at the Marriott Hotel in Chicago. Registration is $200 per person and should be made as soon as possible. For more information, call (217) 384-4118.</p>
<p>PRINCIPAL CONTRACTS The following administrators, teachers and assistant, acting and interim principals have received full principal contracts: Marjorie Adams, Nettlehorst; Alejandro Alvarez, Bowen High; Shirley Antwi-Barfi, Jensen/Miller Child/Parent Center; Renaud Beaudoin, Newberry; Beverly Bennett, Simpson Alternative High; Myron Berger, Near North Special Education Center; Lona Bibbs, Westinghouse Vocational High; James Burns, Henry; Arlene Coffey, Esmond; Isabel Mesa Collins, Drummond; Michael Connolly, Canty; Carolyn Draper, Cullen; Lloyd Ehrenberg, Prussing.</p>
<p>MORE NEW PRINCIPALS Barbara Ellis, Bennett/Shedd; John Everett, Simeon Vocational High; Diane Grissett, Gompers; Roy Pletsch, De La Cruz; Jerome Presley, Warren; Henry Rice, Penn; M. Graciela Shelley, Darwin; Virginia Rivera, McCormick; Oliver Ruff, Williams; Cheryl Rutherford, Lindblom Technical High; Barbara Sims, Shoesmith; Barbara Stepto, Mahalia Jackson; Jacqueline Taylor-Anderson, Young; Lawrence Turner, Mann; Arthur Wimberly, Carver High.</p>
<p>PRINCIPAL CONTRACTS RENEWED Milton Albritton, Wadsworth; Patricia Anderson, Sullivan High; William Auski, Farren; Gloria Baker, O’Keefe; Patricia Bauldrick, Bontemps; Sharon Bean, Hinton; Anthony Biegler, South Loop; Lionel Bordelon, Kozminski; Alford Bridges, Gresham; Joyce Bristow, Black Magnet; Myrtle Burton-Sahara, Locke; Phyllis Charles, Hitch; Kathleen Connors, Lyon; Patricia Doherty, Washington; Rickey Dorsey, Smyth/Joyner Child/Parent Center; Barbara Eason-Watkins, McCosh; Barbara Edwards, Harlan High; Warren Franczyk, Bethune; Winifred French, Reavis; Inez Garber, McCutcheon; Sherye Garmony-Miller, Gregory; Stuart Gold, Gray; Louise Harris-Perez, Key; John Hawkins, Woodson South; Maria Lucila Howell, Tonti; Georgia Hudson, Lathrop; Howard Jackson, Dewey Academy and Child/Parent Center; Joyce Johnson, Dubois; Patrick Keating Sr., Dirksen; Karen Kerr, Bond; Carl Lawson Sr., Price.</p>
<p>MORE RENEWALS Noel LeVeaux, Mason; Fausto Lopez, Jungman; Diane Maciejewski, Edgebrook; James Malles, Medill Intermediate and Upper; Nora Malloy, Frazier; Barbara Martin, Hoyne; Genevieve Massey, Caldwell; Carolyn McGehee, Curtis; James Menconi, Monroe; William Meuer, Norwood Park; Harold Miller, Jefferson; Charles Mingo, DuSable High; Rita Mitchell, Carter; Geraldine Moore, Beidler; Gary Morielio, Gladstone; Janice Preston, Ryder; Barbara Reid Gardner, Hirsch High; Rachel Resnick, Field; C. Scott Rzechula, Burr; Donald Schmitt, Ryerson; Angelena Smith, Carroll and Rosenwald branch; Peter Smith, Neil; Gloria Stratton, Niños Heroes; Allen Stringfellow, Dodge; Gail Ward, Agassiz; Earl Williams, Avalon Park; Mary Williams, Tesla Alternative High; Dorothy Young, Delano.</p>
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new hires chuck burbridge deputy chief fiscal officer deputy cfo cook county bureau finance salary 97000 chris hoagland first deputy budget director assistant city budget director salary 80000 elaine ferguson director employee health services private physician american international hospital salary 80000 andrea kerr director academic program improvement principal mollison elementary salary 75000 new hires continued following administrators continue previous jobs walter allen director funded programs fred chesek coordinator teachers chicago andrew gilchrist controller patricia ann johnson coordinator teachers chicago alice perez peters director language culture alvin peterson director equal educational opportunity programs velma thomas director early childhood education region facilitators following appointed region facilitators office school community relations responsible conflict management coordinating lsc elections providing liaison among board schools community organizations lscs region 1 ada lopez former codirector office reform region 2 dolores guerrero former district 5 administrator region 3 james deanes former president parent community council region 4 william davis facilitator office funded programs region 5 beverly butler former coordinator office reform region 6 estella jarrett former codirector office reform weekly reform updates citywide coalition school reform faxing weekly updates school reform news events get list provide information contact grace troccolo 312 4318452 dispute resolution illinois institute dispute resolution sponsoring twoday workshop creating peaceable school jan 3031 marriott hotel chicago registration 200 per person made soon possible information call 217 3844118 principal contracts following administrators teachers assistant acting interim principals received full principal contracts marjorie adams nettlehorst alejandro alvarez bowen high shirley antwibarfi jensenmiller childparent center renaud beaudoin newberry beverly bennett simpson alternative high myron berger near north special education center lona bibbs westinghouse vocational high james burns henry arlene coffey esmond isabel mesa collins drummond michael connolly canty carolyn draper cullen lloyd ehrenberg prussing new principals barbara ellis bennettshedd john everett simeon vocational high diane grissett gompers roy pletsch de la cruz jerome presley warren henry rice penn graciela shelley darwin virginia rivera mccormick oliver ruff williams cheryl rutherford lindblom technical high barbara sims shoesmith barbara stepto mahalia jackson jacqueline tayloranderson young lawrence turner mann arthur wimberly carver high principal contracts renewed milton albritton wadsworth patricia anderson sullivan high william auski farren gloria baker okeefe patricia bauldrick bontemps sharon bean hinton anthony biegler south loop lionel bordelon kozminski alford bridges gresham joyce bristow black magnet myrtle burtonsahara locke phyllis charles hitch kathleen connors lyon patricia doherty washington rickey dorsey smythjoyner childparent center barbara easonwatkins mccosh barbara edwards harlan high warren franczyk bethune winifred french reavis inez garber mccutcheon sherye garmonymiller gregory stuart gold gray louise harrisperez key john hawkins woodson south maria lucila howell tonti georgia hudson lathrop howard jackson dewey academy childparent center joyce johnson dubois patrick keating sr dirksen karen kerr bond carl lawson sr price renewals noel leveaux mason fausto lopez jungman diane maciejewski edgebrook james malles medill intermediate upper nora malloy frazier barbara martin hoyne genevieve massey caldwell carolyn mcgehee curtis james menconi monroe william meuer norwood park harold miller jefferson charles mingo dusable high rita mitchell carter geraldine moore beidler gary morielio gladstone janice preston ryder barbara reid gardner hirsch high rachel resnick field c scott rzechula burr donald schmitt ryerson angelena smith carroll rosenwald branch peter smith neil gloria stratton niños heroes allen stringfellow dodge gail ward agassiz earl williams avalon park mary williams tesla alternative high dorothy young delano
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<p>Michael Halpert, a baby-faced public defender, is glancing through a file when his client, a bleary-eyed African-American woman who was arrested for drug possession, is called to the bench.</p>
<p>It’s a busy Friday in July. Halpert estimates that as many as 100 people are led from a crowded jail cell in the basement of the courthouse at 26th Street and California Avenue into the courtroom each day where a judge will determine their bond. A lot goes into the decision: the defendant’s criminal history, the probability that he will miss the next court date, or worse, commit another crime while out on bond. If a judge is worried about any of these things, money is attached to the bond, increasing the odds that the defendant will return to the Cook County Jail until his next court date.</p>
<p>Halpert has been keeping unofficial courtroom stats since he was reassigned from traffic to bond court last spring. By his count, roughly half of the cases called this summer were for possession–usually heroin or cocaine. Most involve amounts that would be considered a misdemeanor if they were filed in a federal court or 13 other states. “It’s almost always small amounts,” he says, “less than 1 gram.”</p>
<p>It’s no surprise that drug possession is the No. 1 reason people were in Cook County Jail last year. That’s been the case for the better part of the past decade. Since 2006, people have been booked and released more than 100,000 times for possession, according to jail records. And during that same time period, taxpayers have spent $778 million jailing people on the lowest-level possession charges. Sheriff Tom Dart, who oversees the jail, estimates that it costs $143 a day to detain an inmate.</p>
<p>The figures are staggering, and all the more troubling in light of another factor: 1 in 3 of these cases are dismissed, which means many users are released from a costly stay in jail without treatment, only to come back weeks or months later.</p>
<p>Halpert says the mostly poor, African-American drug abusers who flood the courts are likely to get picked up by police again. “It’s sweeping the problem under the rug temporarily,” he adds.</p>
<p>Last November, The Chicago Reporter investigated <a href="" type="internal">the rising costs at Cook County Jail</a>, driven, in part, by arrests for low-level crimes, including drug possession. Despite growing political pressure to get a handle on jail costs, judges, county officials and prosecutors don’t agree on how to address the problem, let alone how to treat the drug users who cycle through the court system and the jail. While Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Dart push for programs that would divert people from jail, judges are afraid of letting the wrong person go and prosecutors continue to press charges for possession of small quantities of drugs.</p>
<p>Many judges have started swapping bond fees for house arrest, particularly if a defendant doesn’t have any violent crimes on his record.</p>
<p>Retired Judge Lawrence P. Fox has overseen special drug courts that focus on alternative sentencing since the late-1990s. He says jail time can help break addiction, but only if there is drug treatment. The drug courts have helped decrease the number of drug abusers sent to prison. But for people who are being held short-term without a conviction, according to the jail’s executive director, there is little help.</p>
<p>After 40 years in the courts —&#160;as a supervising narcotics court judge before being assigned to the felony trial call through 2010&#160;—&#160;Fox has concluded that the problem is too big for the&#160;courts to fix. “There are so many people that use and abuse drugs,” he says. “My gut is the only thing you can do is decriminalize it. Under a certain amount make it a citational offense.”</p>
<p>“I’m not saying I’m in favor of it,” Fox adds, “but it’s the only thing you can do.”</p>
<p>Chicago police made an average of 76 arrests for drug possession each day last year, more than any other crime. That’s down slightly from 81 the year before. Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez’s office has a reputation for pursuing the charges with little review.</p>
<p>Critics say the aggressive enforcement is part of an unofficial agreement between police and prosecutors that goes like this: Police make high-volume arrests to maintain neighborhood order, prosecutors rubber-stamp the charges and punt to judges, who decide which ones to drop.</p>
<p>Like prosecutors, judges don’t want to be responsible for letting a violent person walk free. High-cost bonds are one way to avoid blow back.</p>
<p>Electronic monitoring has become a more palatable option. The number of monitors issued by judges under growing pressure to get a handle on jail costs has more than doubled from 725 last year to 1,752 this year, the Illinois Supreme Court recently reported.</p>
<p>The state’s high court has been monitoring bond court, nudging along the expansion of electronic monitoring after Preckwinkle called for an intervention last year. Under house arrest, defendants are monitored by the Sheriff’s Office.</p>
<p>There’s a growing concern that the “effort to get people out of jail quicker” is backfiring, Fox says. A big reason is the uptick in the number of people arrested on fresh charges for straying from their homes, which carries a felony escape charge. Halpert estimates that he sees between two and four of the escape cases pass through his courtroom each day.</p>
<p>“To a future employer,” Fox says, “that looks a lot worse than drug possession.”</p>
<p>Meanwhile, police and prosecutors — “the gatekeepers” for who lands in court, according to Ali Abid, a lawyer with the court advocacy group <a href="http://www.chicagoappleseed.org/" type="external">Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice</a>&#160;— continue to push through the charges.</p>
<p>The State’s Attorney’s Office reviews the facts behind most felony charges before formally filing a case, however, drugs are the exception.</p>
<p>It’s been a point of contention for years. Preckwinkle has called for expanding the formal felony review to drug cases. The idea was among a series of recommendations by a state commission at the beginning of the decade to head off dead-end drug cases.</p>
<p>“The problem with having the courts as the de facto review is the cost,” Abid says.</p>
<p>Public defenders say there’s an unwritten rule in the courts, where most cases unravel because of probable cause issues: If there is less than 1 gram of drugs involved, the case is likely to be kicked out.</p>
<p>“[Judges] can see this $143 a day hemorrhaging out of the county,” Abid says. “They know that they [defendants] are just going to get high again and they’re not a risk to public safety.”</p>
<p>Kathleen Kane-Willis, director of the <a href="http://www.roosevelt.edu/icdp" type="external">Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy</a> at Roosevelt University, studied the dismissals a few years ago. She and a team of researchers staked out a handful of preliminary courtrooms, where cases advance to after bond court, and noticed the pattern. As far as the jail population goes, 8 out every 10 times a possession case was dismissed during the past eight years, it involved the lowest-level — a class 4, felony charge.</p>
<p>“Maybe if the drug arrests were bigger,” Kane-Willis says, “judges would be more willing to overlook a bad arrest.”</p>
<p>Fox, a former preliminary court judge, disagrees. “So many of those cases are bad stops,” he says. If there were probable cause issues, he says judges think, “Why go any further with this case?”</p>
<p>Whether it’s intentional or not, Kane-Willis says, the system appears to be “correcting” itself more often in low-level drug cases than others.</p>
<p>“Can you imagine if we [convicted people] in all of these cases?” Kane-Willis adds. “The system can’t handle it.”</p>
<p>Public support for the war on drugs may be waning, but Illinois lawmakers don’t appear poised to change drug laws soon. The focus has turned to administrative fixes and, in Cook County, there are a lot of competing ideas for how to reduce the number of non-violent people clogging the courts and jail.</p>
<p>Over the past couple of years, the people with the power to make those changes — judges, prosecutors, police and county officials who control the budget that pays for it all — have been bickering over who’s responsible. But there are signs that they’re beginning to work more cooperatively.</p>
<p>In July, the state’s high court sent a group of them on a trip to Washington D.C. and Maryland to study pretrial systems that don’t rely on cash bonds or electronic monitoring.</p>
<p>Juliana Stratton, the executive director of the <a href="http://www.cookcountyil.gov/appointments/judicial-advisory-council/justice-advisory-council/" type="external">Cook County Justice Advisory Council</a>, says the goal is to make the jail a place for people who “are a threat to public safety. Those are the people who should be in jail.”</p>
<p>But on a Friday in July, the bond court at 26th Street and California Avenue shows no signs of slowing down.</p>
<p>Within a minute of Halpert’s first client being whisked away, four more possession cases are called back-to-back.</p>
<p>Prosecutors rattle off a history of drug-related charges. The judge finds probable cause with each one and reels off the next court date, usually three weeks away.</p>
<p>“Everybody knows it’s futile,” Halpert says. “But it’s one of those things where everybody buries their head in the sand.”</p>
<p>This story was produced as part of the Social Justice News Nexus, an initiative at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism that brings together reporters, community watchdogs and journalism students to cover issues that impact Chicago. Learn more at <a href="http://sjnnchicago.org/" type="external">sjnnchicago.org</a>. The Social Justice News Nexus is supported by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.</p>
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michael halpert babyfaced public defender glancing file client blearyeyed africanamerican woman arrested drug possession called bench busy friday july halpert estimates many 100 people led crowded jail cell basement courthouse 26th street california avenue courtroom day judge determine bond lot goes decision defendants criminal history probability miss next court date worse commit another crime bond judge worried things money attached bond increasing odds defendant return cook county jail next court date halpert keeping unofficial courtroom stats since reassigned traffic bond court last spring count roughly half cases called summer possessionusually heroin cocaine involve amounts would considered misdemeanor filed federal court 13 states almost always small amounts says less 1 gram surprise drug possession 1 reason people cook county jail last year thats case better part past decade since 2006 people booked released 100000 times possession according jail records time period taxpayers spent 778 million jailing people lowestlevel possession charges sheriff tom dart oversees jail estimates costs 143 day detain inmate figures staggering troubling light another factor 1 3 cases dismissed means many users released costly stay jail without treatment come back weeks months later halpert says mostly poor africanamerican drug abusers flood courts likely get picked police sweeping problem rug temporarily adds last november chicago reporter investigated rising costs cook county jail driven part arrests lowlevel crimes including drug possession despite growing political pressure get handle jail costs judges county officials prosecutors dont agree address problem let alone treat drug users cycle court system jail cook county board president toni preckwinkle dart push programs would divert people jail judges afraid letting wrong person go prosecutors continue press charges possession small quantities drugs many judges started swapping bond fees house arrest particularly defendant doesnt violent crimes record retired judge lawrence p fox overseen special drug courts focus alternative sentencing since late1990s says jail time help break addiction drug treatment drug courts helped decrease number drug abusers sent prison people held shortterm without conviction according jails executive director little help 40 years courts 160as supervising narcotics court judge assigned felony trial call 2010160160fox concluded problem big the160courts fix many people use abuse drugs says gut thing decriminalize certain amount make citational offense im saying im favor fox adds thing chicago police made average 76 arrests drug possession day last year crime thats slightly 81 year cook county states attorney anita alvarezs office reputation pursuing charges little review critics say aggressive enforcement part unofficial agreement police prosecutors goes like police make highvolume arrests maintain neighborhood order prosecutors rubberstamp charges punt judges decide ones drop like prosecutors judges dont want responsible letting violent person walk free highcost bonds one way avoid blow back electronic monitoring become palatable option number monitors issued judges growing pressure get handle jail costs doubled 725 last year 1752 year illinois supreme court recently reported states high court monitoring bond court nudging along expansion electronic monitoring preckwinkle called intervention last year house arrest defendants monitored sheriffs office theres growing concern effort get people jail quicker backfiring fox says big reason uptick number people arrested fresh charges straying homes carries felony escape charge halpert estimates sees two four escape cases pass courtroom day future employer fox says looks lot worse drug possession meanwhile police prosecutors gatekeepers lands court according ali abid lawyer court advocacy group chicago appleseed fund justice160 continue push charges states attorneys office reviews facts behind felony charges formally filing case however drugs exception point contention years preckwinkle called expanding formal felony review drug cases idea among series recommendations state commission beginning decade head deadend drug cases problem courts de facto review cost abid says public defenders say theres unwritten rule courts cases unravel probable cause issues less 1 gram drugs involved case likely kicked judges see 143 day hemorrhaging county abid says know defendants going get high theyre risk public safety kathleen kanewillis director illinois consortium drug policy roosevelt university studied dismissals years ago team researchers staked handful preliminary courtrooms cases advance bond court noticed pattern far jail population goes 8 every 10 times possession case dismissed past eight years involved lowestlevel class 4 felony charge maybe drug arrests bigger kanewillis says judges would willing overlook bad arrest fox former preliminary court judge disagrees many cases bad stops says probable cause issues says judges think go case whether intentional kanewillis says system appears correcting often lowlevel drug cases others imagine convicted people cases kanewillis adds system cant handle public support war drugs may waning illinois lawmakers dont appear poised change drug laws soon focus turned administrative fixes cook county lot competing ideas reduce number nonviolent people clogging courts jail past couple years people power make changes judges prosecutors police county officials control budget pays bickering whos responsible signs theyre beginning work cooperatively july states high court sent group trip washington dc maryland study pretrial systems dont rely cash bonds electronic monitoring juliana stratton executive director cook county justice advisory council says goal make jail place people threat public safety people jail friday july bond court 26th street california avenue shows signs slowing within minute halperts first client whisked away four possession cases called backtoback prosecutors rattle history drugrelated charges judge finds probable cause one reels next court date usually three weeks away everybody knows futile halpert says one things everybody buries head sand story produced part social justice news nexus initiative northwestern universitys medill school journalism brings together reporters community watchdogs journalism students cover issues impact chicago learn sjnnchicagoorg social justice news nexus supported robert r mccormick foundation
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<p>BRUSSELS — Candidates are off and running in the race to be one of the 736 members of the European Parliament (MEPs). The June 4 through June 7 balloting will be the largest transnational election in history, with 375 million people across 27 countries eligible to help send delegates to Brussels.</p>
<p>Long maligned as powerless, the EP actually is very influential in a multinational government whose decisions increasingly impact citizens’ lives (EU regulations have had an effect on consumer products and services from mobile phone plans to feta cheese).</p>
<p>For the next five years, the EP — the only part of the European Union bureaucracy directly elected by voters — will be responsible for drafting an ever-increasing number of laws and regulations that member states must observe. It must approve the entire EU budget and has the right to force the resignation of members of the EU executive branch, the European Commission. The EP’s influence will grow if the Lisbon reform treaty is ratified by all member states.</p>
<p>Already, notes the EP’s promotional material, the parliament’s votes “shape final EU legislation that influences our everyday life, be it the food on our plates, the cost of our shopping, the quality of the air we breathe, or the safety of our children’s toys.”</p>
<p>Who wouldn’t want to have their say over these critical issues?</p>
<p>Apparently, the majority of EU voters.</p>
<p>One of the biggest problems the European Parliament has is that few of the almost half-billion people whose lives it governs seem to care much about choosing its members. Turnout has fallen consistently in the 30 years that direct EP elections have been held, from 62 percent in 1979 to 48 percent in 2004.</p>
<p>No one is predicting an upswing this year — in general. Specialized parties — some of which are actually anti-EU, such as the United Kingdom Independence Party — might be able to mobilize their voters and win a share of seats disproportionate to their support among the general population.</p>
<p>While that causes concern among EU observers, there is also evidence that such “eurosceptic” groups are genuinely winning wider support for their views and leaving the fringe. One of the splashiest examples is <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/ireland/090514/irish-european-parliament-elections" type="external">the new Libertas Party, which evolved from the successful opposition to the Lisbon reform treaty in Ireland</a>.</p>
<p>Libertas, under the chairmanship of the Irishman Declan Ganley, is currently launching branches of the party, or joining with similarly minded affiliate organizations all across Europe. It bills itself as the “pan-European people’s movement for more democracy, accountability and transparency in the EU.” Libertas claims that this week it had more hits on its website than any other political party in the entire world, “leaving even the U.S. Democratic Party website trailing.”</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the more established political blocs are hoping to maintain comfortable margins over the newcomers and special-interest groups. Once elected, MEPs generally fold into these larger groups rather than continuing to identify with their countries and national parties.</p>
<p>The biggest bloc is the center-right European People’s Party-European Democrats (EPP-ED), including the German Christian Democrats and the British Conservative Party, followed by the center-left Party of European Socialists (PES), trailed by the Alliance of Liberals Democrats for Europe (ALDE).</p>
<p>Several other groups also exist, such as the environmentally oriented Greens and the right-wing Union for Europe of the Nations, which each claim a few dozen MEPs. One group of EU critics founded in 2004, Independence and Democracy, now boasts 22 members.</p>
<p>Thirty members remain outside these groups.</p>
<p>Acknowledging the dearth of interest in the mainstream European parties, and presuming that it can be changed, the EP has allocated 18 million euros (almost $25 million) to sell itself to voters with the help of public-relations firms, celebrities, television stations and social media. The potential voter can peruse a plethora of Web pages that both provide information and give users the opportunity to ask questions.</p>
<p>The slogan — “European elections — it’s your choice!” — is being translated and subtitled in 34 languages for use across the continent on posters, stickers, billboards and in broadcasting. Campaigners hope to inspire citizens to invest themselves in the issues, rather than just prod them to fulfill their civic duty to cast a ballot.</p>
<p>EU polling finds the electorate most concerned about consumer protection and public health issues — and polls were conducted before the H1N1 flu outbreak — with coordination of economic policies coming in second and unified security and defense policy coming in third. As a sign of the times, just six months ago the issue of fiscal policy ranked only sixth while security was first.</p>
<p>Voters complain that they don’t understand what the EP does and therefore do not feel engaged. It can be hard to decipher how anything works in Brussels’ tangled bureaucracy, and understanding it does not necessarily make it more inspiring.</p>
<p>Much of what happens here is only interesting to a specialized audience, even if it is relevant to a vastly wider one. It’s therefore not surprising that, regardless of what the transnational European issues of greatest concern to voters are, the contests for MEPs in their home countries tend to center on domestic issues that will not be part of the winner’s mandate. Ironically, the majority of laws implemented by national governments — possibly as high as 80 percent — begin at the EU level.</p>
<p>Much of the EP’s PR effort, therefore, is trying to bring home to voters the notion that the work in faraway Brussels — or Strasbourg, where parliament meets one week per month — has an impact on them. A special Elections 2009 section on the parliamentary website highlights recent examples of debates in parliament, such as how long maternity and paternity leaves should be throughout the EU, whether there should be more regulation on the Internet and what kind of laws could help ease the bite of the economic crisis.</p>
<p>The EP has a joint project with MTV to increase the participation of voters between the ages of 18 and 24, whose turnout was just 40 percent last time. Launched last month, the campaign doesn’t overestimate its audience’s level of engagement: “Did you know that the European elections are almost here?” the official website queries. “Did you even know that there were European elections?”</p>
<p>Those were more than just rhetorical questions in a survey undertaken by the EU’s own statistical agency, Eurobarometer, at the beginning of this year, and the answers didn’t bode well for turnout. Only 32 percent of respondents knew there was a vote this year and 53 percent said they are not interested.</p>
<p>Read more about the European elections:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/ireland/090514/irish-european-parliament-elections" type="external">The Irish seek a way back into Europe</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/poland/090517/the-european-parliament-elections-beauty-pageant" type="external">The European Parliament elections as beauty pageant</a></p>
<p>More GlobalPost dispatches on the European Union:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/european-union/090507/eu-us-trade-agreement" type="external">Is the US getting a raw deal?</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/european-union/090421/are-you-paying-too-much-flight-france" type="external">Are you paying too much for that flight to France?</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/health/090501/euth" type="external">Europe's growing euthanasia debate</a> &#160;</p>
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brussels candidates running race one 736 members european parliament meps june 4 june 7 balloting largest transnational election history 375 million people across 27 countries eligible help send delegates brussels long maligned powerless ep actually influential multinational government whose decisions increasingly impact citizens lives eu regulations effect consumer products services mobile phone plans feta cheese next five years ep part european union bureaucracy directly elected voters responsible drafting everincreasing number laws regulations member states must observe must approve entire eu budget right force resignation members eu executive branch european commission eps influence grow lisbon reform treaty ratified member states already notes eps promotional material parliaments votes shape final eu legislation influences everyday life food plates cost shopping quality air breathe safety childrens toys wouldnt want say critical issues apparently majority eu voters one biggest problems european parliament almost halfbillion people whose lives governs seem care much choosing members turnout fallen consistently 30 years direct ep elections held 62 percent 1979 48 percent 2004 one predicting upswing year general specialized parties actually antieu united kingdom independence party might able mobilize voters win share seats disproportionate support among general population causes concern among eu observers also evidence eurosceptic groups genuinely winning wider support views leaving fringe one splashiest examples new libertas party evolved successful opposition lisbon reform treaty ireland libertas chairmanship irishman declan ganley currently launching branches party joining similarly minded affiliate organizations across europe bills paneuropean peoples movement democracy accountability transparency eu libertas claims week hits website political party entire world leaving even us democratic party website trailing meanwhile established political blocs hoping maintain comfortable margins newcomers specialinterest groups elected meps generally fold larger groups rather continuing identify countries national parties biggest bloc centerright european peoples partyeuropean democrats epped including german christian democrats british conservative party followed centerleft party european socialists pes trailed alliance liberals democrats europe alde several groups also exist environmentally oriented greens rightwing union europe nations claim dozen meps one group eu critics founded 2004 independence democracy boasts 22 members thirty members remain outside groups acknowledging dearth interest mainstream european parties presuming changed ep allocated 18 million euros almost 25 million sell voters help publicrelations firms celebrities television stations social media potential voter peruse plethora web pages provide information give users opportunity ask questions slogan european elections choice translated subtitled 34 languages use across continent posters stickers billboards broadcasting campaigners hope inspire citizens invest issues rather prod fulfill civic duty cast ballot eu polling finds electorate concerned consumer protection public health issues polls conducted h1n1 flu outbreak coordination economic policies coming second unified security defense policy coming third sign times six months ago issue fiscal policy ranked sixth security first voters complain dont understand ep therefore feel engaged hard decipher anything works brussels tangled bureaucracy understanding necessarily make inspiring much happens interesting specialized audience even relevant vastly wider one therefore surprising regardless transnational european issues greatest concern voters contests meps home countries tend center domestic issues part winners mandate ironically majority laws implemented national governments possibly high 80 percent begin eu level much eps pr effort therefore trying bring home voters notion work faraway brussels strasbourg parliament meets one week per month impact special elections 2009 section parliamentary website highlights recent examples debates parliament long maternity paternity leaves throughout eu whether regulation internet kind laws could help ease bite economic crisis ep joint project mtv increase participation voters ages 18 24 whose turnout 40 percent last time launched last month campaign doesnt overestimate audiences level engagement know european elections almost official website queries even know european elections rhetorical questions survey undertaken eus statistical agency eurobarometer beginning year answers didnt bode well turnout 32 percent respondents knew vote year 53 percent said interested read european elections irish seek way back europe european parliament elections beauty pageant globalpost dispatches european union us getting raw deal paying much flight france europes growing euthanasia debate 160
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<p>RICHMOND — A diverse coalition of pastors and theological educators has launched an initiative they hope will offer a platform for evangelical leaders to “work for a Kingdom-driven, gospel-centered, biblically-grounded theology and ecclesial practice for God’s mission in North America.”</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.missioalliance.org/" type="external">Missio Alliance</a> will “provide a place for theological dialogue, training and the creation of resources to navigate present and future missional challenges,” said Chris Backert, a key organizer of the effort.</p>
<p>Its inaugural conference, to be held in April 2013 in suburban Washington, will feature an array of presenters, including evangelical heavyweights Alan Hirsch, Scot McKnight and Dallas Willard.</p>
<p>The initiative is a response to the increasingly post-Christian cultural context churches encounter in the United States and Canada, said Backert, who also directs two networks of missional churches — <a href="http://www.ecclesianet.org/" type="external">Ecclesia</a> and <a href="http://freshexpressionsus.org/" type="external">Fresh Expressions</a> — and works closely with the <a href="http://www.vbmb.org/" type="external">Virginia Baptist Mission Board</a> in&#160;church planting.</p>
<p>“There’s a need to consider afresh what God is doing and calling us to in his mission,” he said. “In recent history we have witnessed increasing fragmentation within evangelical Protestantism and sharp denominational decline. Yet even amidst these challenges, we believe there is a unique opportunity to work toward the renewal of the church for mission in North America.”</p>
<p>Other early organizers of the Missio Alliance include Jim Baucom, pastor of <a href="http://www.columbiabaptist.org/" type="external">Columbia Baptist Church</a> in Falls Church, Va.; Alistair Brown, president of <a href="http://www.seminary.edu/" type="external">Northern Baptist Theological Seminary</a> in Lombard, Ill.; Travis Collins, pastor of <a href="http://www.bonairbaptist.org/" type="external">Bon Air Baptist Church</a> in Richmond; Gary Nelson, president of <a href="http://www.tyndale.ca/" type="external">Tyndale University College and Seminary</a> in Toronto; and Roger Olson, professor of theology at Baylor University’s <a href="http://www.baylor.edu/truett/" type="external">Truett Theological Seminary</a> in Waco, Texas.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Backert</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Its leaders said the Missio Alliance will offer an alternative to the <a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/" type="external">Gospel Coalition</a>, another evangelical renewal movement but one with a strong Reformed, or Calvinist, theological stance. Among its leaders are prominent Calvinists Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.; John Piper, pastor for preaching and vision at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minn.; and Mark Dever, senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington.</p>
<p>“In our opinion, there is a real need for a more positive, theologically orthodox yet sociologically hopeful, evangelical voice in North America,” said Baucom, whose church is just outside of Washington. “Of late, the loudest voices have been hyper-Reformed, offering what sounds to us like a deterministic and discouraging vision of God, creation and God’s relationship to creation. We find this vision inconsistent with the teaching of Jesus and the whole counsel of Scripture.</p>
<p>Olson agreed the Missio Alliance will offer “an alternative for moderate evangelicals.”</p>
<p>“I don’t mean anything against the Gospel Coalition,” he said. “It’s just that it can’t be a hospitable network for support, cooperation and common mission for moderates. There really isn’t one like that, as far as I know. The Missio Alliance is the best hope we have.”</p>
<p>Backert said that, while the Missio Alliance isn’t a specific response to the Gospel Coalition, the new group “is saying there are other ways of being scripturally faithful, that as evangelicals we are grappling with the realities of post-Christianity on our continent and want to bring some substantive theological reflection and formation to that.”</p>
<p>“We consider the tribes [faith groups] in the Gospel Coalition our brothers and we appreciate and respect what they are doing,” said Backert. “We are just working in a different field. In our new day of challenge for mission we all have to remember that those who share a foundation of Christian orthodoxy all work for the same boss.”</p>
<p>Added Baucom, “The way I like to describe our vision is as rooted in a core, biblically-informed conviction that God doesn’t just tolerate the humans he created; he actually likes them and desires that none of them be lost.”</p>
<p>Though Baptists have been prominent in the Missio Alliance’s formation, a wide range of denominational traditions are involved, including Wesleyans, Anglicans, Assemblies of God and the Christian and Missionary Alliance. That gives strong momentum to the initiative, said Backert, who added the Alliance will ground itself in the <a href="http://www.lausanne.org/en/documents/ctcommitment.html" type="external">Capetown Commitments</a>, a confession of faith developed in 2010 by the international Lausanne Movement.</p>
<p>“The historic tribes of Christianity — and I mostly mean Protestant Christianity — were created in a world with different issues and they set themselves apart based on those issues,” he said. In a post-Christian context, “new kinds of alliances and connections are forming that didn’t exist 50 years ago.”</p>
<p>“The diversity of our voice is a tremendous strength,” said Baucom, “and by diversity I mean socioeconomic and ethnic as well as denominational. … In some ways, our diversity demonstrates more clearly a vision of restoration and regeneration in Christ than any words we can write or preach could possibly convey.”</p>
<p>The April 11-13 inaugural conference will be held in two locations in Alexandria, Va. — <a href="http://www.alfredstreet.org/" type="external">Alfred Street Baptist Church</a> and <a href="http://www.downtownbaptist.org/" type="external">Downtown Baptist Church</a> — and will feature more than two dozen presenters and a variety of workshops. Among the conference sponsors are the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, the <a href="http://www.leland.edu/" type="external">John Leland Center for Theological Studies</a>, <a href="http://www.georgefox.edu/seminary/index.html" type="external">George Fox Evangelical Seminary</a>, <a href="http://www.fuller.edu/" type="external">Fuller Theological Seminary</a> and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. Ecclesia and Fresh Expressions also are sponsors, as are the <a href="http://www.spencenetwork.org/" type="external">Spence Network</a>, a leadership group; <a href="http://v3churchplanting.org/" type="external">V3</a>, a church planting network; <a href="http://www.forgeamerica.org/" type="external">Forge America</a>, a missionary training network; and <a href="http://www.ivpress.com/" type="external">InterVarsity Press</a>, the evangelical publishing house.</p>
<p>Robert Dilday ( <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>) is managing editor of the Religious Herald.</p>
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richmond diverse coalition pastors theological educators launched initiative hope offer platform evangelical leaders work kingdomdriven gospelcentered biblicallygrounded theology ecclesial practice gods mission north america missio alliance provide place theological dialogue training creation resources navigate present future missional challenges said chris backert key organizer effort inaugural conference held april 2013 suburban washington feature array presenters including evangelical heavyweights alan hirsch scot mcknight dallas willard initiative response increasingly postchristian cultural context churches encounter united states canada said backert also directs two networks missional churches ecclesia fresh expressions works closely virginia baptist mission board in160church planting theres need consider afresh god calling us mission said recent history witnessed increasing fragmentation within evangelical protestantism sharp denominational decline yet even amidst challenges believe unique opportunity work toward renewal church mission north america early organizers missio alliance include jim baucom pastor columbia baptist church falls church va alistair brown president northern baptist theological seminary lombard ill travis collins pastor bon air baptist church richmond gary nelson president tyndale university college seminary toronto roger olson professor theology baylor universitys truett theological seminary waco texas backert leaders said missio alliance offer alternative gospel coalition another evangelical renewal movement one strong reformed calvinist theological stance among leaders prominent calvinists albert mohler president southern baptist theological seminary louisville ky john piper pastor preaching vision bethlehem baptist church minneapolis minn mark dever senior pastor capitol hill baptist church washington opinion real need positive theologically orthodox yet sociologically hopeful evangelical voice north america said baucom whose church outside washington late loudest voices hyperreformed offering sounds us like deterministic discouraging vision god creation gods relationship creation find vision inconsistent teaching jesus whole counsel scripture olson agreed missio alliance offer alternative moderate evangelicals dont mean anything gospel coalition said cant hospitable network support cooperation common mission moderates really isnt one like far know missio alliance best hope backert said missio alliance isnt specific response gospel coalition new group saying ways scripturally faithful evangelicals grappling realities postchristianity continent want bring substantive theological reflection formation consider tribes faith groups gospel coalition brothers appreciate respect said backert working different field new day challenge mission remember share foundation christian orthodoxy work boss added baucom way like describe vision rooted core biblicallyinformed conviction god doesnt tolerate humans created actually likes desires none lost though baptists prominent missio alliances formation wide range denominational traditions involved including wesleyans anglicans assemblies god christian missionary alliance gives strong momentum initiative said backert added alliance ground capetown commitments confession faith developed 2010 international lausanne movement historic tribes christianity mostly mean protestant christianity created world different issues set apart based issues said postchristian context new kinds alliances connections forming didnt exist 50 years ago diversity voice tremendous strength said baucom diversity mean socioeconomic ethnic well denominational ways diversity demonstrates clearly vision restoration regeneration christ words write preach could possibly convey april 1113 inaugural conference held two locations alexandria va alfred street baptist church downtown baptist church feature two dozen presenters variety workshops among conference sponsors virginia baptist mission board john leland center theological studies george fox evangelical seminary fuller theological seminary northern baptist theological seminary ecclesia fresh expressions also sponsors spence network leadership group v3 church planting network forge america missionary training network intervarsity press evangelical publishing house robert dilday rdildayreligiousheraldorg managing editor religious herald
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<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>NOV. 18, 2010</p>
<p>By JOHN SEILER</p>
<p>In the competition between America’s two most populous states, California has two recent victories over Texas. In the World Series, the <a href="http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/10/24/2010-world-series-giants-vs-rangers/" type="external">San Francisco Giants stomped on the Texas Rangers</a>.</p>
<p>And on election day, Nov. 2, the Silicon Valley venture capitalists who funded the campaign opposing <a href="http://www.ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_23_(2010)" type="external">Proposition 23</a>trounced the <a href="http://www01.smgov.net/cityclerk/council/agendas/2010/20100624/s2010062413-A-5.pdf" type="external">Texas Oil Companies’ Dirty Energy Proposition</a>, as it was branded, when Prop. 23 lost at the polls, 61 percent to 39 percent. Prop. 23 would have suspended <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Warming_Solutions_Act_of_2006" type="external">AB32, the 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act</a>. Reported <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703305404575610402116987146.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop" type="external">George Gilder</a>:</p>
<p>Led by [ <a href="http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2010/04/29/al-gores-massive-carbon-footprint-tracks-to-california/25391/" type="external">California resident</a>] Al Gore’s investment affiliate, Kleiner Perkins Caulfield and Byers, the campaign to save AB32 raised $31 million—more than three times the $10 million that the [Dirty Texas] oil companies raised for repeal. Pouring in millions were such promethean venturers as John Doerr and Vinod Khosla of Kleiner Perkins, Eric Schmidt and Sergei Brin of Google, and the legendary Gordon Moore and Andrew Grove of Intel. The campaign even managed to shake down a contribution from the state’s public utility, Pacific Gas and Electric, and gained the backing of the GOP’s eBay billionaire gubernatorial candidate, Meg Whitman.</p>
<p>So, California seems to be on a roll.</p>
<p>The problem is that, aside from tax-subsidized green technologies, the top Silicon Valley companies and Hollywood, California’s economy is doing much worse than Texas’, according to a new study by the <a href="http://www.texaspolicy.com/" type="external">Texas Public Policy Foundation</a>, a think tank in Austin.</p>
<p>“ <a href="http://www.texaspolicy.com/pdf/2010-10-CompetitiveStatesTXvsCA.pdf" type="external">Competitive States 2010: Texas vs. California, Economic Growth Prospects for the 21st Century,</a>” was written for Arduin, Laffer &amp; Moore Econometrics by four scholars:</p>
<p>* Donna Arduin, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first budget director, back when he was balancing budgets; so she well knows California’s budget situation and economy.</p>
<p>* Arthur Laffer, the economist who helped design California’s Proposition 13 tax cuts in 1978, Ronald Reagan’s tax cuts in 1980 and Jerry Brown’s flat-tax proposal during the 1992 presidential primaries.</p>
<p>* Stephen Moore, an economist now an editorial writer with The Wall Street Journal.</p>
<p>* Wayne H. Winegarden, an economist and manager of policy studies and analysis at Arduin, Laffer &amp; Moore.</p>
<p>I talked to Winegarden about the study.</p>
<p>The study found:</p>
<p>Even amid the country’s worst economic setback in decades, our updated analysis shows that Texas’ competitive edge over California remains sharp. … Like the rest of the nation, Texas’ economic growth hit a serious speed bump during the great recession. But, its economic decline in the state has been milder than in California and the rest of the country. The Texas economy has been growing stronger, with less negative volatility, than California or the nation overall.</p>
<p>Shockingly, the study noted, in the past year Texas created 129,000 new jobs, half of those created in America, even in the midst of the worst of the worst recession since the Great Depression — even as California lost 112,000 jobs.</p>
<p>What’s going on?</p>
<p>“There are a lot of reasons,” Winegarden told me. “Policy is one of them. The progressive income tax system in California creates a lot of volatility.” By contrast, he said, in Texas there is no income tax, therefore less volatility. “A rigid tree will fall, but a more flexible tree can bend.”</p>
<p>The volatility problem long has been noted in California, such as by <a href="http://www.lao.ca.gov/2005/rev_vol/rev_volatility_012005.pdf" type="external">this 2005 study</a> from the Legislative Analyst’s Office. What happens is that, because of the progressive income tax with its current top rate of 10.55 percent, in good times massive amounts of revenue are generated, as during the dot-com boom of the late 1990s and the real-estate boom of the mid-2000s.</p>
<p>The Legislature and governor, assuming the good times never will end, then go on spending binges. In his first two budgets, for fiscal years 1999-2000 and 2000-2001, Democratic Gov. Gray Davis increased spending an unsustainable 15 percent per year — each year. Those also were the years of the bipartisan pension spiking, based on unrealistic expectations of unending stock-market increases, that have plunged the state into a <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/06/opinion/la-oe-crane6-2010apr06" type="external">$500 billion pension debt</a>.</p>
<p>Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was nearly as bad on spending in the mid-2000s, after he abandoned the moderate fiscal austerity of his first two years in office.</p>
<p>Maybe nothing is a bigger contrast than the two states’ respective attitudes toward business. “Texas has a smaller tax burden and a smaller spending burden,” Winegarden said. “Also, its unions are less powerful and it regulates less. Texas has a smarter, more focused application of regulations. In California, it’s hard to get a housing license.”</p>
<p>The study looked at six areas of comparison. In only one area, taxes on consumption, is Texas as competitive as California. In all the other areas, Texas as has a significant advantage:</p>
<p>Taxes on Labor</p>
<p>Top Marginal Personal Income Tax Rate:</p>
<p>California: 10.55% Texas: 0%</p>
<p>Taxes on Capital</p>
<p>Top Marginal Rate: Income, Capital Gains, Dividends:</p>
<p>California: 10.55% Texas: 0%</p>
<p>Marginal Personal Income Tax (Average Income Earner):</p>
<p>California: 9.55% Texas: 0%</p>
<p>Overall Tax Environment</p>
<p>Recent Legislated Tax Changes per $1,000 of Personal Income (2008 &amp; 2009):</p>
<p>California: $115.96 Texas: $94</p>
<p>Government Spending Policies</p>
<p>Total State and Local Expenditures per Capita (2008):</p>
<p>California: $11,356.83 Texas: $7,763.49</p>
<p>Average Growth in State and Local Government Expenditures (2008):</p>
<p>California: 7.29% Texas: 7.02%</p>
<p>The spending situation is worth noting. California spent $11,356.83 per capita, or 68 percent more than&#160;Texas’ $7,763.49. No wonder California’s budget now is <a href="" type="internal">$24 billion in the red</a>.</p>
<p>And note that California’s tax on the middle class is 9.55 percent of income, almost as high as that on millionaires, 10.55 percent. Texas has no income tax.</p>
<p>AB32, the global-warming law, “is a selling point for every other state,” Winegarden warned. A company can avoid its heavy burden just by leaving California, or not locating here in the first place.</p>
<p>He said that, to avoid chasing away businesses, AB32 implementation should be accompanied by lowering taxes on those businesses affected by the new regulations. Unfortunately, no such proposals are in the air.</p>
<p>And he pointed out that, ironically, if carbon-generating businesses leave California, there won’t be any “global” solutions implemented; the carbon emissions will just be relocated to another state, along with the associated jobs.</p>
<p>Despite the negative comparison with Texas, California still has some positives, beginning with the weather. The study found:</p>
<p>A 2009 survey of American top-level executives published in Chief Executive Magazine hails California for offering the best quality of life in the nation. But, in the eyes of these same executives, California polls as the worst state for business. Meanwhile, Texas ranks as the best.</p>
<p>Winegarden also found some hope in the election of Jerry Brown as governor. He pointed out that, although Brown opposed Proposition 13 in his first go around as governor, after the tax-cut measure passed in 1978, he enthusiastically backed it.</p>
<p>“He could out-Texas Texas if he adopted some version of his 1992 flat-tax idea for California,” Winegarden said. “I would love to see him do that. Get rid of all state taxes except for a flat tax on income. You could get the same revenue, but revitalize the California mystique. Nobody benefits when California is not strong. As in sports, competition makes everybody better.”</p>
<p>John Seiler is a reporter and analyst with CalWatchDog.com. His email: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
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nov 18 2010 john seiler competition americas two populous states california two recent victories texas world series san francisco giants stomped texas rangers election day nov 2 silicon valley venture capitalists funded campaign opposing proposition 23trounced texas oil companies dirty energy proposition branded prop 23 lost polls 61 percent 39 percent prop 23 would suspended ab32 2006 global warming solutions act reported george gilder led california resident al gores investment affiliate kleiner perkins caulfield byers campaign save ab32 raised 31 millionmore three times 10 million dirty texas oil companies raised repeal pouring millions promethean venturers john doerr vinod khosla kleiner perkins eric schmidt sergei brin google legendary gordon moore andrew grove intel campaign even managed shake contribution states public utility pacific gas electric gained backing gops ebay billionaire gubernatorial candidate meg whitman california seems roll problem aside taxsubsidized green technologies top silicon valley companies hollywood californias economy much worse texas according new study texas public policy foundation think tank austin competitive states 2010 texas vs california economic growth prospects 21st century written arduin laffer amp moore econometrics four scholars donna arduin gov arnold schwarzeneggers first budget director back balancing budgets well knows californias budget situation economy arthur laffer economist helped design californias proposition 13 tax cuts 1978 ronald reagans tax cuts 1980 jerry browns flattax proposal 1992 presidential primaries stephen moore economist editorial writer wall street journal wayne h winegarden economist manager policy studies analysis arduin laffer amp moore talked winegarden study study found even amid countrys worst economic setback decades updated analysis shows texas competitive edge california remains sharp like rest nation texas economic growth hit serious speed bump great recession economic decline state milder california rest country texas economy growing stronger less negative volatility california nation overall shockingly study noted past year texas created 129000 new jobs half created america even midst worst worst recession since great depression even california lost 112000 jobs whats going lot reasons winegarden told policy one progressive income tax system california creates lot volatility contrast said texas income tax therefore less volatility rigid tree fall flexible tree bend volatility problem long noted california 2005 study legislative analysts office happens progressive income tax current top rate 1055 percent good times massive amounts revenue generated dotcom boom late 1990s realestate boom mid2000s legislature governor assuming good times never end go spending binges first two budgets fiscal years 19992000 20002001 democratic gov gray davis increased spending unsustainable 15 percent per year year also years bipartisan pension spiking based unrealistic expectations unending stockmarket increases plunged state 500 billion pension debt republican gov arnold schwarzenegger nearly bad spending mid2000s abandoned moderate fiscal austerity first two years office maybe nothing bigger contrast two states respective attitudes toward business texas smaller tax burden smaller spending burden winegarden said also unions less powerful regulates less texas smarter focused application regulations california hard get housing license study looked six areas comparison one area taxes consumption texas competitive california areas texas significant advantage taxes labor top marginal personal income tax rate california 1055 texas 0 taxes capital top marginal rate income capital gains dividends california 1055 texas 0 marginal personal income tax average income earner california 955 texas 0 overall tax environment recent legislated tax changes per 1000 personal income 2008 amp 2009 california 11596 texas 94 government spending policies total state local expenditures per capita 2008 california 1135683 texas 776349 average growth state local government expenditures 2008 california 729 texas 702 spending situation worth noting california spent 1135683 per capita 68 percent than160texas 776349 wonder californias budget 24 billion red note californias tax middle class 955 percent income almost high millionaires 1055 percent texas income tax ab32 globalwarming law selling point every state winegarden warned company avoid heavy burden leaving california locating first place said avoid chasing away businesses ab32 implementation accompanied lowering taxes businesses affected new regulations unfortunately proposals air pointed ironically carbongenerating businesses leave california wont global solutions implemented carbon emissions relocated another state along associated jobs despite negative comparison texas california still positives beginning weather study found 2009 survey american toplevel executives published chief executive magazine hails california offering best quality life nation eyes executives california polls worst state business meanwhile texas ranks best winegarden also found hope election jerry brown governor pointed although brown opposed proposition 13 first go around governor taxcut measure passed 1978 enthusiastically backed could outtexas texas adopted version 1992 flattax idea california winegarden said would love see get rid state taxes except flat tax income could get revenue revitalize california mystique nobody benefits california strong sports competition makes everybody better john seiler reporter analyst calwatchdogcom email writejohnseilergmailcom
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<p>BOGOTA, Colombia - Colombia's decades-long civil conflict&#160;has reached a paradoxical climax.</p>
<p>Both the government and the rebels are calling for peace. To prove&#160;that they are serious, the rebels are proceeding with a historic&#160;release of abducted soldiers and police; some have been held for 14&#160;years.</p>
<p>Yet the violence has worsened in March, with both sides inflicting deadly blows.</p>
<p>That's how things work here: the greater the desire for peace, the&#160;more blood is spilled.</p>
<p>Earlier this month, rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of&#160;Colombia - or FARC, the country's largest guerrilla group - launched&#160;one of the worst attacks on the military in recent years. They struck&#160;a military camp, killing 10 soldiers and a non-commissioned officer.&#160;The attack occurred in the violent, oil-rich province of Arauca that&#160;borders Venezuela. Authorities opened an investigation into the&#160;assault.</p>
<p>The FARC's victory was short-lived. Four days later, five airplanes&#160;bombarded the its 10th Front camp in Arauca, killing 33 guerrillas.&#160;Ground troops captured five more rebels, including the Front's second&#160;in command.&#160;Guerrillas who had fled the FARC's ranks provided the air force with the camp's location, authorities said.</p>
<p>On Monday, President Juan Manuel Santos confirmed another massive operation in eastern Colombia. This time the military killed 36 guerrillas in the FARC stronghold of Vista Hermosa.</p>
<p>More from Colombia: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/colombia/120228/meet-the-new-boss" type="external">Meet the new boss</a></p>
<p>Against this backdrop of intensifying conflict, the 9,000-strong FARC&#160;has been preparing to release the remaining police and soldiers it&#160;holds in captivity.</p>
<p>Ten soldiers and policemen are expected to be freed on April 2 and&#160;April 4, according to a former senator who works as mediator in the&#160;conflict.</p>
<p>The FARC had initially abducted them in an effort to pressure the&#160;government to release imprisoned guerrillas. The FARC also used&#160;kidnapping, along with extortion and drug trafficking, to raise money.&#160;Rebels helped make Colombia the world kidnap capital a decade ago.&#160;Middle-class and wealthy Colombians lived in terror of being abducted.</p>
<p>The abductions proved disastrous for the FARC, especially when the&#160;world learned of the inhuman conditions in which the captives are&#160;kept. Trapped in the&#160;jungle, abductees commonly catch diseases. Many are bound to fellow&#160;hostages by thick metal chains around their necks.</p>
<p>Formed in 1964, the FARC says it's fighting to take power in order to&#160;create a fairer society, redistribute land and nationalize key&#160;industries. The US and European Union label the group a "terrorist&#160;organization."</p>
<p>Read more: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/colombia/120111/whats-the-fate-the-farc" type="external">What's the fate of the FARC?</a></p>
<p>Even European and Latin American leftist groups who support the FARC's&#160;aims have distanced themselves from the group, for years demanding an&#160;end to the abductions.</p>
<p>Responding to the criticism, in February the FARC announced that it&#160;would comply. In doing so, the FARC criticized the government's&#160;military build-up, saying, "it's time that this regime seriously&#160;thought about a different exit" from this conflict.</p>
<p>The government welcomed the move - which it has long demanded as a&#160;precondition for peace talks - but continues to insist that the rebels&#160;cease all attacks before any talks can begin.</p>
<p>"I have the key to peace in my pocket" has become a catchphrase of&#160;President Juan Manuel Santos.</p>
<p>In private, defense ministry officials have said that while the&#160;government wants talks, it wants to weaken the FARC even more before&#160;any negotiations.</p>
<p>Since late last year, FARC has a new leader, "Timochenko," the nom de&#160;guerre of Rodrigo Londono Echeverri. Timochenko has repeatedly urged&#160;negotiations.</p>
<p>While the government says the FARC has lost its ideology, interviews&#160;with various guerrillas reveal many of its fighters remain dedicated&#160;to a complete reform of Colombian society, one of the most unequal&#160;countries in the world.</p>
<p>In the statements asking for talks, the FARC has made it clear that it&#160;is not interested in negotiating a complete surrender. Rather, it&#160;wants a comprehensive peace accord. One statement listed issues to be&#160;discussed in any negotiations: land for farmers, popular sovereignty,&#160;respect for indigenous rights, free health and education, defense of&#160;the environment among others.</p>
<p>Yet, just as the FARC's leadership must bring over its rank and file&#160;for talks, President Juan Manuel Santos must convince his own voters&#160;of the value of negotiations.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/argentina/120321/fuzzy-math-behind-argentina-growth" type="external">The Argentine economy's fuzzy math problem</a></p>
<p>History has made many here weary of talks with the rebels. The last&#160;major negotiations handed the rebels a demilitarized zone the size of&#160;Switzerland, which they used to strengthen their ranks and hold&#160;hostages. The talks&#160;collapsed in 2002, but are still regarded by many as a national embarrassment.</p>
<p>This time, the government is under pressure from the right and from&#160;supporters of former President Alvaro Uribe to cede nothing to the&#160;rebels. Uribe's allies have been very critical of Santos,&#160;accusing him of letting the security situation get out of control&#160;since taking office in 2010.</p>
<p>"If the country is to move forward, security has to be improved and to&#160;correct missteps to get back what our government achieved,"? Uribe&#160;said in an interview with El Colombiano newspaper.</p>
<p>Following the latest assaults, Uribe on Tuesday tweeted, "While the army attacks terrorism, others in the government seek publicity to convince Colombians for new negotiations."&#160;</p>
<p>Peace with the guerrillas would be historic, ending one of the&#160;planet's longest-running conflicts. But it would also allow Colombia&#160;to focus on other threats, such as growing narco-militias and a&#160;brewing drug war in the country's second-largest city.</p>
<p>Both the rebels and the government want peace talks. It remains to be&#160;seen if they'll let the chance slip away again.</p>
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bogota colombia colombias decadeslong civil conflict160has reached paradoxical climax government rebels calling peace prove160that serious rebels proceeding historic160release abducted soldiers police held 14160years yet violence worsened march sides inflicting deadly blows thats things work greater desire peace the160more blood spilled earlier month rebels revolutionary armed forces of160colombia farc countrys largest guerrilla group launched160one worst attacks military recent years struck160a military camp killing 10 soldiers noncommissioned officer160the attack occurred violent oilrich province arauca that160borders venezuela authorities opened investigation the160assault farcs victory shortlived four days later five airplanes160bombarded 10th front camp arauca killing 33 guerrillas160ground troops captured five rebels including fronts second160in command160guerrillas fled farcs ranks provided air force camps location authorities said monday president juan manuel santos confirmed another massive operation eastern colombia time military killed 36 guerrillas farc stronghold vista hermosa colombia meet new boss backdrop intensifying conflict 9000strong farc160has preparing release remaining police soldiers it160holds captivity ten soldiers policemen expected freed april 2 and160april 4 according former senator works mediator the160conflict farc initially abducted effort pressure the160government release imprisoned guerrillas farc also used160kidnapping along extortion drug trafficking raise money160rebels helped make colombia world kidnap capital decade ago160middleclass wealthy colombians lived terror abducted abductions proved disastrous farc especially the160world learned inhuman conditions captives are160kept trapped the160jungle abductees commonly catch diseases many bound fellow160hostages thick metal chains around necks formed 1964 farc says fighting take power order to160create fairer society redistribute land nationalize key160industries us european union label group terrorist160organization read whats fate farc even european latin american leftist groups support farcs160aims distanced group years demanding an160end abductions responding criticism february farc announced it160would comply farc criticized governments160military buildup saying time regime seriously160thought different exit conflict government welcomed move long demanded a160precondition peace talks continues insist rebels160cease attacks talks begin key peace pocket become catchphrase of160president juan manuel santos private defense ministry officials said the160government wants talks wants weaken farc even before160any negotiations since late last year farc new leader timochenko nom de160guerre rodrigo londono echeverri timochenko repeatedly urged160negotiations government says farc lost ideology interviews160with various guerrillas reveal many fighters remain dedicated160to complete reform colombian society one unequal160countries world statements asking talks farc made clear it160is interested negotiating complete surrender rather it160wants comprehensive peace accord one statement listed issues be160discussed negotiations land farmers popular sovereignty160respect indigenous rights free health education defense of160the environment among others yet farcs leadership must bring rank file160for talks president juan manuel santos must convince voters160of value negotiations globalpost argentine economys fuzzy math problem history made many weary talks rebels last160major negotiations handed rebels demilitarized zone size of160switzerland used strengthen ranks hold160hostages talks160collapsed 2002 still regarded many national embarrassment time government pressure right from160supporters former president alvaro uribe cede nothing the160rebels uribes allies critical santos160accusing letting security situation get control160since taking office 2010 country move forward security improved to160correct missteps get back government achieved uribe160said interview el colombiano newspaper following latest assaults uribe tuesday tweeted army attacks terrorism others government seek publicity convince colombians new negotiations160 peace guerrillas would historic ending one the160planets longestrunning conflicts would also allow colombia160to focus threats growing narcomilitias a160brewing drug war countrys secondlargest city rebels government want peace talks remains be160seen theyll let chance slip away
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<p>JAN. 24, 2012</p>
<p>By KATY GRIMES</p>
<p>A ballot initiative planned for the November ballot could result in fewer bills coming out of the Capitol, potentially saving California taxpayers and business owners “tens of millions of dollars.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Despite widespread disapproval of the Legislature’s performance, every bill attempting to change the system from inside of the Legislature is immediately killed.</p>
<p>Watching this first hand and desiring to make California’s Legislature part-time, Assemblywoman Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, co-authored a ballot initiative with <a href="http://www.peoplesadvocate.org/" type="external">The People’s Advocate</a>founder Ted Costa, renowned for the <a href="http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Gray_Davis_recall_(2003)" type="external">Gray Davis recall</a>.</p>
<p>The initiative would create a three-month, 90-day session at the state capitol, and reduce salaries for individual lawmakers from the present $7,940 monthly to $1,500 monthly. The annual salary would go from $95,291, down to $18,000, thus allowing legislators to hold a private-sector job at home in the district.</p>
<p>The new proposal would prohibit legislators from accepting state employment or appointment to a state government position for five years after they leave the Capitol.</p>
<p>“Politicians will spend less time driving business and jobs out of California,” said Grove. “They will spend less time in the state Capitol with special interests and lobbyists, and more time in their own districts.”</p>
<p>This state has had a full-time legislature since 1966 when voters approved the change. However, the annual cost to support the full-time Legislature has risen to $256 million, and created a culture of professional politicians — the direct opposite of a citizen-Legislature.</p>
<p>Grove said too many of the state politicians live in a bubble and work entirely in the political realm, disconnected from the world of taxpayers and the millions of private-sector businesses.</p>
<p>“California should definitely get rid of the full-time legislature; it is an experiment that has not worked and has not led to better lawmaking; if anything it has led to worse,” <a href="http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2011/12/we-need-a-part-time-legislature-but-grove-and-costa-get-it-wrong/" type="external">wrote</a> Tony Quinn, long-time political writer and analyst, in December. But Quinn <a href="http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2011/12/we-need-a-part-time-legislature-but-grove-and-costa-get-it-wrong/" type="external">doesn’t like</a>the proposed plan. “The Shannon-Costa 90-day part-time version is nuts.&#160; They need to go back to the drawing board and come up with something that makes sense.”</p>
<p>Quinn said that legislators will not be able to put together a budget in that short period, so Gov. Brown’s Finance Department will end up writing the state budget and it will be passed with little public oversight or input.</p>
<p>A <a href="http://www.lao.ca.gov/ballot/2011/110794.aspx" type="external">&#160;new report</a>by the state’s <a href="http://www.lao.ca.gov/ballot/2011/110794.aspx" type="external">Legislative Analyst’s Office</a> found that the salary reductions would save the state $9.2 million annually, and the other cost savings would run into “tens of millions of dollars” annually.</p>
<p>But Grove asked, “Why stop there?” Despite the strong LAO estimate, Grove said the analyst’s office should take an even deeper look at more savings potential if the Legislature is no longer full time. “If the LAO looked at the cost of thousands of bad bills, we would save hundreds of millions of dollars.”</p>
<p>It’s not just the cost savings on legislators’ salaries, which is substantial, according to the LAO. The savings to businesses that no longer have to change their business plan and taxing structure every year to adjust to new legislation will be substantial, said Grove. “And, state agencies would be on a two-year budget.”</p>
<p>As for the critics of a part-time Legislature who claim that lawmakers wouldn’t be able to get their jobs done on a reduced schedule, Grove said that’s hooey. “Look at all of the gut-and-amend bills they jam through in the last three days of the session.”</p>
<p>Grove’s initiative will limit legislators to working no more than 95 days per year. According to Grove, legislators already work 80-95 days each year. “But it gets expensive with the per diem they accumulate just for showing up,” Grove said. “They collect $141 and some change just for showing up, saying the ‘Pledge of Allegiance’ and a prayer,” she said. “Do you earn an extra $50,000 tax-free every year?” she asked.</p>
<p>Add in the per diem pay with travel reimbursements and lawmakers are paid very well for what many do not consider a full-time job.</p>
<p>Where the hard costs will be realized is not in the amount of time legislating, but in the costs associated with travel, dining, rent and “other” reimbursable expenses, said Grove.</p>
<p>Despite critics who say that the idea is irresponsible, and that it would weaken lawmakers’ oversight over public services, Grove insists that the state would be better off with less legislator time in the Capitol and more time at home in the district. “They should have to live and work among their constituents, with a real job, and most importantly, living under the laws they pass,” Grove added. Her initiative would help reduce the “political class” power structure controlled by a small number of people.</p>
<p>“We used to have a part-time legislature back in the 1960s when we were the [world’s] fifth largest economy,” said Grove. “Now California has dropped to the eighth largest economy. Texas has a part-time Legislature, Florida does it. Those are very large economies and they work on a part-time basis.”</p>
<p>Most of the states pay lawmakers less than half of what California legislators are paid. Some pay much less than that: Nevada pays just $137.90 per day for a maximum of 60 days of session. New Hampshire pays $200 for a two-year term. Alabama pays $10 per session day. Texas pays $7,200 per year. And New Mexico only pays for legislators’ expenses; there’s no salary.</p>
<p>The big union-dominated states pay closer to California’s legislative wages, but not as high. Pennsylvania pays $78,314 per year. New York pays $79,500 per year. And Michigan pays $79,650 per year. Even Wisconsin, with the union riots at the Capitol last year, only pays legislators $49,943 per year.</p>
<p>While Grove in the measure did not address the exorbitant cost of legislative staff, many whom receive six-figure salaries, Grove said without a full-time Legislature, the number of full-time staff will diminish as well. “As will the number of police needed to guard the Capitol, and so on,” Grove said. “And those savings should continue year after year.”</p>
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jan 24 2012 katy grimes ballot initiative planned november ballot could result fewer bills coming capitol potentially saving california taxpayers business owners tens millions dollars despite widespread disapproval legislatures performance every bill attempting change system inside legislature immediately killed watching first hand desiring make californias legislature parttime assemblywoman shannon grove rbakersfield coauthored ballot initiative peoples advocatefounder ted costa renowned gray davis recall initiative would create threemonth 90day session state capitol reduce salaries individual lawmakers present 7940 monthly 1500 monthly annual salary would go 95291 18000 thus allowing legislators hold privatesector job home district new proposal would prohibit legislators accepting state employment appointment state government position five years leave capitol politicians spend less time driving business jobs california said grove spend less time state capitol special interests lobbyists time districts state fulltime legislature since 1966 voters approved change however annual cost support fulltime legislature risen 256 million created culture professional politicians direct opposite citizenlegislature grove said many state politicians live bubble work entirely political realm disconnected world taxpayers millions privatesector businesses california definitely get rid fulltime legislature experiment worked led better lawmaking anything led worse wrote tony quinn longtime political writer analyst december quinn doesnt likethe proposed plan shannoncosta 90day parttime version nuts160 need go back drawing board come something makes sense quinn said legislators able put together budget short period gov browns finance department end writing state budget passed little public oversight input 160new reportby states legislative analysts office found salary reductions would save state 92 million annually cost savings would run tens millions dollars annually grove asked stop despite strong lao estimate grove said analysts office take even deeper look savings potential legislature longer full time lao looked cost thousands bad bills would save hundreds millions dollars cost savings legislators salaries substantial according lao savings businesses longer change business plan taxing structure every year adjust new legislation substantial said grove state agencies would twoyear budget critics parttime legislature claim lawmakers wouldnt able get jobs done reduced schedule grove said thats hooey look gutandamend bills jam last three days session groves initiative limit legislators working 95 days per year according grove legislators already work 8095 days year gets expensive per diem accumulate showing grove said collect 141 change showing saying pledge allegiance prayer said earn extra 50000 taxfree every year asked add per diem pay travel reimbursements lawmakers paid well many consider fulltime job hard costs realized amount time legislating costs associated travel dining rent reimbursable expenses said grove despite critics say idea irresponsible would weaken lawmakers oversight public services grove insists state would better less legislator time capitol time home district live work among constituents real job importantly living laws pass grove added initiative would help reduce political class power structure controlled small number people used parttime legislature back 1960s worlds fifth largest economy said grove california dropped eighth largest economy texas parttime legislature florida large economies work parttime basis states pay lawmakers less half california legislators paid pay much less nevada pays 13790 per day maximum 60 days session new hampshire pays 200 twoyear term alabama pays 10 per session day texas pays 7200 per year new mexico pays legislators expenses theres salary big uniondominated states pay closer californias legislative wages high pennsylvania pays 78314 per year new york pays 79500 per year michigan pays 79650 per year even wisconsin union riots capitol last year pays legislators 49943 per year grove measure address exorbitant cost legislative staff many receive sixfigure salaries grove said without fulltime legislature number fulltime staff diminish well number police needed guard capitol grove said savings continue year year
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<p>SACRAMENTO – During the California Democratic Party convention in Sacramento last weekend, the spiciest news was outgoing chairman John Burton <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/05/20/amid-f-bomb-and-uproar-dems-face-demands-get-behind-single-payer" type="external">dropping an f-bomb</a> on a group of activists demanding that the party embrace a single-payer health system. It’s not really news when the notoriously foul-mouthed Burton says such things, but the fracas highlighted the pressure party leadership faces to embrace government-run medical care.</p>
<p>Yet the foulest rebuke to advocates for single payer this week did not take place at the convention. It took place nearby at the state Capitol, in the form of an appropriations committee report that found that a <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article151960182.html" type="external">single-payer bill</a> working its way through the state Senate would cost more than double the state’s total budget.</p>
<p><a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB562" type="external">Senate Bill 562</a>, which had previously passed the Senate health committee, was placed in the “suspense file” by the appropriations committee on Monday as legislators analyze the huge price tag. They have until the end of the week to move it out of the file, or it will die this year.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billAnalysisClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB562" type="external">committee</a> made clear the size of the undertaking: “The fiscal estimates below are subject to enormous uncertainty,” it explained. “Completely rebuilding the California health care system from a multi-payer system into a single payer, fee-for-service system would be an unprecedented change in a large health care market.”</p>
<p>The appropriations analysts estimate an annual cost of $400 billion a year, which soars above the projected $180 billion state budget. Of that cost, the committee explained, about half of it would be covered by existing federal, state and local health care funding. That leaves a $200-billion hole, which the committee says could be covered by a 15 percent payroll tax. Even if the calculation includes reduced health care spending by employers and employees, the committee still estimates a $50-billion to $100-billion shortfall.</p>
<p>And, quite significantly, these costs could be understated given the kind of demand that would be created by this system. Its main advocates, Sens. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, and Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, view health care as a “human right,” so the system the bill would create would provide nearly unlimited access to medical care. In fact, the <a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billAnalysisClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB562" type="external">Senate health committee</a> report opined that “SB562 will change health care in California from commodity to a right.”</p>
<p>“Under the bill, enrollee access to services would be largely unconstrained by utilization management tools commonly used by health care payers, including Medi-Cal,” according to the committee report. “The ability for enrollees to see any willing provider, to receive any service deemed medically appropriate by a licensed provider, and the lack of cost sharing, in combination, would make it difficult for the program to make use of utilization management tools … . Therefore, it is very likely that there would be increased utilization of health care services under this bill.”</p>
<p>And the committee only is talking about predicted costs. It’s not its job to engage other policy debates, such as those touching on subjects including rationing, waiting lists for services if the demand overwhelms supply and the quality of care. <a href="http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-single-payer-healthcare-20170426-story.html" type="external">The bill would apply to illegal immigrants</a>, which raise critics’ concerns about the state becoming a worldwide magnet for “free” health care.</p>
<p>The bill is fairly short given the complexity of the subject. But the <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/30/california-lawmakers-release-details-on-universal-health-coverage-proposal/" type="external">Mercury News</a> captured the gist of the single-payer approach in a March news article: “Instead of buying health insurance and paying for premiums, residents pay higher taxes. And those taxes are then used to fund the insurance plan — in the same way Medicare taxes are used to provide insurance for Americans 65 and over.”</p>
<p>This bill would put control of health care in the state under the authority of a nine-member panel and essentially eliminate the role of insurance companies – thus replacing them with a government bureaucracy. But the size of the tax bill and state costs even have Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown expressing what the newspaper calls “deep skepticism.”</p>
<p>The analysis makes some other important points. For instance, it’s not clear that the federal government would go along with this, and it is totally discretionary whether the feds would grant the necessary waivers involving Medicare and Medicaid services. The bill’s funding is based heavily on the ability to divert federal funds from those programs.</p>
<p>The analysis also notes, “There are several provisions of the state constitution that would prevent the Legislature from creating the single-payer system envisioned in the bill without voter approval.” In Colorado this past November, voters defeated a single-payer initiative, <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/2016/11/08/coloradocare-amendment-69-election-results/" type="external">Amendment 69</a>, with an overwhelming 79 percent to 21 percent “no” vote.</p>
<p>Supporters of the measure claim that it will reduce “waste” by putting all health plans under a single umbrella, thus ending the duplication of multi-plan systems. But critics note that competition is the best way to keep costs low – not putting a system under one giant governmental entity. Advocates see it as a way to ensure proper health care for everyone, but the appropriations report confirms critics’ concerns that such a system could obliterate the state budget and kill job-creating private enterprise because of the high tax bite.</p>
<p>As the Democratic Party protests illustrated, we can expect the debate to become even more acrimonious and obscenity laden as the days go on.</p>
<p>Steven Greenhut is Western region director for the R Street Institute. Write to him at [email protected].</p>
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sacramento california democratic party convention sacramento last weekend spiciest news outgoing chairman john burton dropping fbomb group activists demanding party embrace singlepayer health system really news notoriously foulmouthed burton says things fracas highlighted pressure party leadership faces embrace governmentrun medical care yet foulest rebuke advocates single payer week take place convention took place nearby state capitol form appropriations committee report found singlepayer bill working way state senate would cost double states total budget senate bill 562 previously passed senate health committee placed suspense file appropriations committee monday legislators analyze huge price tag end week move file die year committee made clear size undertaking fiscal estimates subject enormous uncertainty explained completely rebuilding california health care system multipayer system single payer feeforservice system would unprecedented change large health care market appropriations analysts estimate annual cost 400 billion year soars projected 180 billion state budget cost committee explained half would covered existing federal state local health care funding leaves 200billion hole committee says could covered 15 percent payroll tax even calculation includes reduced health care spending employers employees committee still estimates 50billion 100billion shortfall quite significantly costs could understated given kind demand would created system main advocates sens ricardo lara dbell gardens toni atkins dsan diego view health care human right system bill would create would provide nearly unlimited access medical care fact senate health committee report opined sb562 change health care california commodity right bill enrollee access services would largely unconstrained utilization management tools commonly used health care payers including medical according committee report ability enrollees see willing provider receive service deemed medically appropriate licensed provider lack cost sharing combination would make difficult program make use utilization management tools therefore likely would increased utilization health care services bill committee talking predicted costs job engage policy debates touching subjects including rationing waiting lists services demand overwhelms supply quality care bill would apply illegal immigrants raise critics concerns state becoming worldwide magnet free health care bill fairly short given complexity subject mercury news captured gist singlepayer approach march news article instead buying health insurance paying premiums residents pay higher taxes taxes used fund insurance plan way medicare taxes used provide insurance americans 65 bill would put control health care state authority ninemember panel essentially eliminate role insurance companies thus replacing government bureaucracy size tax bill state costs even democratic gov jerry brown expressing newspaper calls deep skepticism analysis makes important points instance clear federal government would go along totally discretionary whether feds would grant necessary waivers involving medicare medicaid services bills funding based heavily ability divert federal funds programs analysis also notes several provisions state constitution would prevent legislature creating singlepayer system envisioned bill without voter approval colorado past november voters defeated singlepayer initiative amendment 69 overwhelming 79 percent 21 percent vote supporters measure claim reduce waste putting health plans single umbrella thus ending duplication multiplan systems critics note competition best way keep costs low putting system one giant governmental entity advocates see way ensure proper health care everyone appropriations report confirms critics concerns system could obliterate state budget kill jobcreating private enterprise high tax bite democratic party protests illustrated expect debate become even acrimonious obscenity laden days go steven greenhut western region director r street institute write sgreenhutrstreetorg
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<p>Led by the two principals who wrote editorials critical of CPS administration, the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association has formed a new committee aimed at advocating for policy and amplifying principal voice.</p>
<p>The committee is calling itself Administrators Alliance for Proven Policy and Legislation in Education or AAPPLE.&#160;</p>
<p>The committee plans to hold monthly forums, issue white papers and keep members better informed about what the CPAA is working on. It also has a discussion board on its <a href="http://www.aapplecpaa.com/" type="external">website</a>.</p>
<p>Topics for the first four forums are: Defining a successful school system; high quality teacher training and professional development; economics, poverty, segregation and education systems, and the role of schools and government in addressing the effects of poverty on school systems; and how do we build sustainable cities?</p>
<p>The first forum will be held on Aug. 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the University of Illinois-Chicago Pavilion.</p>
<p>Michael Beyer, principal of Morrill Elementary, said the forums are intended to help change the conversation and get at some core questions about the future of the CPS and the city. Blaine Principal Troy LaRaviere says he thinks it is important that the new committee broadens the conversation.</p>
<p>“On the surface, some of the forum topics don’t have anything to do with school, but they have everything to do with school,” LaRaviere says.</p>
<p>The moderators will include Terry Mazany, president of The Chicago Community Trust, and academics Charles Payne of the University of Chicago and David Stovall of University of Illinois – Chicago. &#160;Mazany served for about a year and a half as interim chief executive officer of CPS, bridging the Richard Daley and Rahm Emanuel administrations, and Payne was his chief education officer.</p>
<p>Beyer says the forum panels will include charter-school advocates, and the panel for the forum on sustainable cities will include mayoral candidates. “We want to have a professional debate on solutions,” he says.</p>
<p>LaRaviere has been outspoken in his opposition to Emanuel, and it would run contrary to standard political practice for an incumbent mayor to participate in a panel with opponents, particularly if it includes Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis, a frequent, harsh critic who is weighing a run.</p>
<p>LaRaviere and Beyer say they want the committee to be non-political and that inviting mayoral candidates is meant to influence them rather than give them a platform.</p>
<p>“Our contributions to policy discussions will come from the experiences of CPS principals and assistant principals as they provide feedback on the very real effects of district and state policies,” LaRaviere says.&#160; “Our contributions will also derive from an already large body of research on what has been proven to work for great school systems.”</p>
<p>While principals tend to be extremely busy, Beyer says organizers are hopeful that they will see the value of carving out a few hours a month to attend the forums, which will be open to the public.</p>
<p>The committee’s leaders are also working on white papers that outline some of the issues they are concerned about. The first one will be on implementation of the new physical education policy, which requires daily PE, and the second one will be on student-based budgeting.</p>
<p>Beyer says the group is hopeful that CPS leaders will take heed of the positions advocated in the white papers and eventually see the value in gauging the committee’s opinion before moving forward on policy. He notes that currently the CPAA is often informed about decisions a week before they are announced and has little chance of changing them.</p>
<p>Working with CPAA</p>
<p>LaRaviere and Beyer say they and a group of about eight other principals considered forming a new entity, but met with CPAA president Clarice Berry and decided that it would be best to work with the existing organization. “We saw no reason not to work with CPAA,” LaRaviere says.</p>
<p>LaRaviere <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/opinions/letters/27339293-474/under-emanuel-principals-have-no-voice.html#.U9vyvvldU1T" type="external">wrote an editorial</a> in May, criticizing Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CPS leaders for not listening to teachers and principals and for forbidding them from talking to the press about what is going on in their schools.Then, in Catalyst, Beyer laid out the <a href="http://catalyst-chicago.org/2014/05/proposal-give-school-principals-voice/" type="external">type of organization principals need to represent them</a>.</p>
<p>CPS spokesman Joel Hood did not want to comment specifically on the creation of the new committee, but says CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett has a principals’ advisory committee and listens intently to what those principals have to say. “We greatly value working with principals,” he says.</p>
<p>But LaRaviere says he does not think the advisory committee, chosen by Byrd-Bennett, can fully represent principals. He says the advisory committee’s function is to offer thoughts on subjects that Byrd-Bennett wants feedback on, not necessarily to look at issues that affect schooling or advocate for policies principals are concerned about.</p>
<p>Beyer also says CPS’ principal advisory committee is problematic as the only voice delivering the principal point of view to CPS. For one, no one knows who is on it, he says, so if a principal wants to communicate a concern, he or she doesn’t know whom to reach out to. Also, he says, those on it might be afraid to say what they really think.&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Berry, the CPAA president, says she has struggled to get principals to speak out on issues and welcomes the new committee. “First and foremost, the issue is fear. Principals are paralyzed,” she says.</p>
<p>Berry says she thinks the move to student-based budgeting sent principals “over the cliff.” “You have all these unfunded mandates and a mountain of accountability. It was like a volcano.”</p>
<p>&#160;“Their colleagues see them as beacons,” Berry says. “They have confidence in them.”</p>
<p>LaRaviere says the feedback he has gotten from CPS principals is that they are hungry for such an entity. “I am hopeful,” he says.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
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led two principals wrote editorials critical cps administration chicago principals administrators association formed new committee aimed advocating policy amplifying principal voice committee calling administrators alliance proven policy legislation education aapple160 committee plans hold monthly forums issue white papers keep members better informed cpaa working also discussion board website topics first four forums defining successful school system high quality teacher training professional development economics poverty segregation education systems role schools government addressing effects poverty school systems build sustainable cities first forum held aug 21 6 pm 8 pm university illinoischicago pavilion michael beyer principal morrill elementary said forums intended help change conversation get core questions future cps city blaine principal troy laraviere says thinks important new committee broadens conversation surface forum topics dont anything school everything school laraviere says moderators include terry mazany president chicago community trust academics charles payne university chicago david stovall university illinois chicago 160mazany served year half interim chief executive officer cps bridging richard daley rahm emanuel administrations payne chief education officer beyer says forum panels include charterschool advocates panel forum sustainable cities include mayoral candidates want professional debate solutions says laraviere outspoken opposition emanuel would run contrary standard political practice incumbent mayor participate panel opponents particularly includes chicago teachers union president karen lewis frequent harsh critic weighing run laraviere beyer say want committee nonpolitical inviting mayoral candidates meant influence rather give platform contributions policy discussions come experiences cps principals assistant principals provide feedback real effects district state policies laraviere says160 contributions also derive already large body research proven work great school systems principals tend extremely busy beyer says organizers hopeful see value carving hours month attend forums open public committees leaders also working white papers outline issues concerned first one implementation new physical education policy requires daily pe second one studentbased budgeting beyer says group hopeful cps leaders take heed positions advocated white papers eventually see value gauging committees opinion moving forward policy notes currently cpaa often informed decisions week announced little chance changing working cpaa laraviere beyer say group eight principals considered forming new entity met cpaa president clarice berry decided would best work existing organization saw reason work cpaa laraviere says laraviere wrote editorial may criticizing mayor rahm emanuel cps leaders listening teachers principals forbidding talking press going schoolsthen catalyst beyer laid type organization principals need represent cps spokesman joel hood want comment specifically creation new committee says cps ceo barbara byrdbennett principals advisory committee listens intently principals say greatly value working principals says laraviere says think advisory committee chosen byrdbennett fully represent principals says advisory committees function offer thoughts subjects byrdbennett wants feedback necessarily look issues affect schooling advocate policies principals concerned beyer also says cps principal advisory committee problematic voice delivering principal point view cps one one knows says principal wants communicate concern doesnt know reach also says might afraid say really think160160 berry cpaa president says struggled get principals speak issues welcomes new committee first foremost issue fear principals paralyzed says berry says thinks move studentbased budgeting sent principals cliff unfunded mandates mountain accountability like volcano 160their colleagues see beacons berry says confidence laraviere says feedback gotten cps principals hungry entity hopeful says 160
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<p><a href="http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/alight-10072011082911.html" type="external">On Friday, two teenaged Tibetans</a>, both former monks, set themselves on fire at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in eastern Tibet (Chinese: Sichuan province). Together, they raise the number of self-immolations this year to seven.</p>
<p>Tenzin Dorjee, executive director of Students for a Free Tibet, goes by the name Tendor. He is a Tibetan born and raised in exile near Dharamsala, India. Tendor is a firm believer in non-violent resistance. "I think we can win," he said during a telephone interview. "I want to be a part of this struggle that will fundamentally shift the way people think about violence and non-violence."</p>
<p>Here, he talks with GlobalPost about the Tibetans' nonviolent quest as a jarring backdrop for what the media has begun referring to as a "small but growing phenomenon" of monks burning themselves alive to protest Chinese oppression.</p>
<p>GlobalPost: Since March of this year, seven monks have burned themselves alive in protest of China's hold over Tibet. How do you make sense of this growing trend?</p>
<p>Tenzin Dorjee: Self-immolation is pretty much unheard of in Tibetan society. It had actually never happened before except one time in India, back in 1998, when an elderly Tibetan man, a former monk in exile, burned himself alive during a hunger strike relay organized by the Tibetan Youth Congress in Delhi.</p>
<p>But it had never happened in Tibet, even during China's invasion of Tibet in the 1950s or during the Cultural Revolution in the 1970s. Until March of 2009, when a monk in his 20s set himself on fire at Kirti monastery. It had a profound impact on the Tibetan psyche.</p>
<p>Now this year alone, seven monks have committed acts of self-immolation in what are clearly very, very political acts directed at the Chinese government. These are young monks in the prime of their lives, making the strongest possible political statement demanding freedom for Tibet.</p>
<p>Why is this trend surfacing now? What has changed recently?</p>
<p>It's clearly because China has escalated its repression in Tibet.</p>
<p>Since 2008, the number of Chinese troops in places like Ngaba country (Aba in Chinese), which is where the Kirti monastery is located, has skyrocketed. Often, the number of troops exceeds the number of Tibetans. Checkpoints at street corners, and surveillance cameras on both sides of the street. They have turned Tibet into a war zone.</p>
<p>The Chinese government decided to crack down on Kirti monastery because many of its monks participated in peaceful demonstrations. Chinese authorities started re-education sessions there, literally trying to change the psychology of the monks. They are forcing them to denounce the Dalai Lama, which is one of the most difficult things for a monk to do since he is their teacher. In Buddhist belief, if you break your relationship with your teachers, then you break your relationship with the dharma, condemning yourself to ignorance for lives to come.</p>
<p>More: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/india/100706/dalai-karmapa-lama-tibetan-buddhism" type="external">Will the next Dalai Lama dig rap?</a></p>
<p>Until recently, there were around 2,500 monks in the Kirti monastery. It was one the main centers of learning and education. Now, Chinese police have raided the premises and sent many monks back to their homes. Over the summer, they arrested 300 monks and sent them away to a detention center. Those monks are still unaccounted for. The number of monks in the monastery has gone down to 400.</p>
<p>Today, we are hearing that there are over 100 Chinese government officials stationed in the monastery, watching and monitoring everything. They're also planning to build four sub-police stations within the monastery.</p>
<p>What does the trend indicate?</p>
<p>Tibetans have reached a breaking point, and Tibetans don't break easily. Places like Bellevue hospital in New York City that research PTSD cases are constantly amazed that Tibetans refugees - after crossing the Himalayas with Chinese soldiers chasing them - are resilient in the face of trauma, probably thanks to the strength they draw from Buddhist teachings. The growing number of self-immolations means that China's brutality has escalated to such a degree that even Tibetans cannot take it any more.</p>
<p>In some religions, I've heard there are incentives to martyr oneself. That isn't the case in Buddhism, which in general forbids people from taking life, even their own. There is no religious incentive for burning oneself alive, but still people are doing it. The situation has gone beyond the political or the religious, it's become a desperate cry.</p>
<p>Do you think the trend will continue?</p>
<p>The latest we've heard, posters were going up in Kirti, saying that if the Chinese government doesn't withdraw troops and officials from the monastery, then more would be willing to take these extreme acts. It's very likely we'll see more of these incidents as long as China's stranglehold in Tibet continues.</p>
<p>Will it work?</p>
<p>Global intervention is seriously needed at this point - a multilateral, coordinated approach to dealing with the Chinese government is probably the only thing that can save Tibetan lives.</p>
<p>The Chinese always try to use the economic stick to deter criticism. If more governments come together in a coordinated approach, that will deny the Chinese government that advantage.</p>
<p>Beijing may not listen to Tibetans on fire, but it will listen to global pressure.</p>
<p>What is the media missing in coverage of this story?</p>
<p>Ngaba, Kardze, Sertha, Rebkong, Zorge and even Lhasa have been sharpening their game for the last several months. They are engaging in a Tibetan self-reliance movement known as Lhakar. They aren't going to wait for Chinese policies to change, they are taking matters into their own hands.</p>
<p>More: <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/worldview/100207/tibet-passive-resistance" type="external">Tibetans make Ghandi proud</a></p>
<p>For instance, many Tibetans only go to Tibetan shops and restaurants. In Nangchen, Tibetans refused to buy vegetables from Chinese stores where the prices were through the roof. Their boycott actually prompted some of the Chinese shops to close, and now Tibetans have started opening up their own shops. These are incredible victories we are seeing amidst such repressive climate.</p>
<p>Last October, China announced a plan to replace the Tibetan language with Chinese in schools, putting Tibetans at a huge disadvantage. Tibetans got together and decided there was no reason to abandon their own language. They started making up their own rules.</p>
<p>They decided to speak only in Tibetan, and if they accidentally say a Chinese word they fine themselves half a yuan. A lot of monks, every time they utter a Chinese word they put money in a fine box. They aren't doing anything illegal according to China's constitution. The fine is voluntary, and now it's become a growing trend in many Tibetan areas.</p>
<p>So, the campaign of repression that China is waging in Tibet is ironically boosting this self-reliance movement, which is less risky and more sustainable.</p>
<p>As a proponent of non-violence, are you offended by these acts of self-immolation?</p>
<p>Absolutely not. These acts are completely nonviolent.</p>
<p>These monks have not taken a single life other than their own. It's a very conscious decision they are making not to harm someone else. &#160;</p>
| false | 3 |
friday two teenaged tibetans former monks set fire tibetan buddhist monastery eastern tibet chinese sichuan province together raise number selfimmolations year seven tenzin dorjee executive director students free tibet goes name tendor tibetan born raised exile near dharamsala india tendor firm believer nonviolent resistance think win said telephone interview want part struggle fundamentally shift way people think violence nonviolence talks globalpost tibetans nonviolent quest jarring backdrop media begun referring small growing phenomenon monks burning alive protest chinese oppression globalpost since march year seven monks burned alive protest chinas hold tibet make sense growing trend tenzin dorjee selfimmolation pretty much unheard tibetan society actually never happened except one time india back 1998 elderly tibetan man former monk exile burned alive hunger strike relay organized tibetan youth congress delhi never happened tibet even chinas invasion tibet 1950s cultural revolution 1970s march 2009 monk 20s set fire kirti monastery profound impact tibetan psyche year alone seven monks committed acts selfimmolation clearly political acts directed chinese government young monks prime lives making strongest possible political statement demanding freedom tibet trend surfacing changed recently clearly china escalated repression tibet since 2008 number chinese troops places like ngaba country aba chinese kirti monastery located skyrocketed often number troops exceeds number tibetans checkpoints street corners surveillance cameras sides street turned tibet war zone chinese government decided crack kirti monastery many monks participated peaceful demonstrations chinese authorities started reeducation sessions literally trying change psychology monks forcing denounce dalai lama one difficult things monk since teacher buddhist belief break relationship teachers break relationship dharma condemning ignorance lives come next dalai lama dig rap recently around 2500 monks kirti monastery one main centers learning education chinese police raided premises sent many monks back homes summer arrested 300 monks sent away detention center monks still unaccounted number monks monastery gone 400 today hearing 100 chinese government officials stationed monastery watching monitoring everything theyre also planning build four subpolice stations within monastery trend indicate tibetans reached breaking point tibetans dont break easily places like bellevue hospital new york city research ptsd cases constantly amazed tibetans refugees crossing himalayas chinese soldiers chasing resilient face trauma probably thanks strength draw buddhist teachings growing number selfimmolations means chinas brutality escalated degree even tibetans take religions ive heard incentives martyr oneself isnt case buddhism general forbids people taking life even religious incentive burning oneself alive still people situation gone beyond political religious become desperate cry think trend continue latest weve heard posters going kirti saying chinese government doesnt withdraw troops officials monastery would willing take extreme acts likely well see incidents long chinas stranglehold tibet continues work global intervention seriously needed point multilateral coordinated approach dealing chinese government probably thing save tibetan lives chinese always try use economic stick deter criticism governments come together coordinated approach deny chinese government advantage beijing may listen tibetans fire listen global pressure media missing coverage story ngaba kardze sertha rebkong zorge even lhasa sharpening game last several months engaging tibetan selfreliance movement known lhakar arent going wait chinese policies change taking matters hands tibetans make ghandi proud instance many tibetans go tibetan shops restaurants nangchen tibetans refused buy vegetables chinese stores prices roof boycott actually prompted chinese shops close tibetans started opening shops incredible victories seeing amidst repressive climate last october china announced plan replace tibetan language chinese schools putting tibetans huge disadvantage tibetans got together decided reason abandon language started making rules decided speak tibetan accidentally say chinese word fine half yuan lot monks every time utter chinese word put money fine box arent anything illegal according chinas constitution fine voluntary become growing trend many tibetan areas campaign repression china waging tibet ironically boosting selfreliance movement less risky sustainable proponent nonviolence offended acts selfimmolation absolutely acts completely nonviolent monks taken single life conscious decision making harm someone else 160
| 630 |
<p>July 11, 2013</p>
<p>By Katy Grimes</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Whenever environmental or social justice activists want something banned, they create a health or safety reason supporting their policy.</p>
<p>This is the case with the attempt by the <a href="http://www.aqmd.gov" type="external">South Coast Air Quality Management District</a>&#160;to ban fire rings and bonfires on Southern California beaches.</p>
<p>‘Bonfire of the Vanities’&#160;refers to the burning of objects that are deemed to be occasions of sin. With beach bonfires, they are occasions of joy, happiness, family and friends. Apparently occasions of joy, happiness, family and friends are offensive to some.</p>
<p>The SCQMD proposed amendments to <a href="http://www.aqmd.gov/rules/proposed.html#445-444" type="external">Rule 444</a>, which would ban open burning in beach areas.</p>
<p>“The fire rings have been an important part of our beach experience for over 60 years,” &#160;‘Save the Southern California Beach Bonfire Rings’ explains on its <a href="http://www.savethebonfirerings.com" type="external">website</a>&#160;and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SaveTheBonfireRings" type="external">Facebook page</a>. “They provide an affordable means of gathering family and friends on Southern California shores to celebrate our outdoor beach lifestyle with s’mores and hotdog roasting under the stars, all while enjoying the glow of a warm fire.”</p>
<p>So why would anyone want to put an end to this wholesome, inexpensive, family fun?</p>
<p>There are several reasons. But the primary reason really driving the bonfire ban is area home owners. Those who live along the ocean don’t like the crowds, and have complained to local officials about the noise from the night time bonfires. Even though they bought the property knowing it was attached to publicly accessed beaches, homeowners have demanded government regulators ban the fire pits to keep people off the beaches at night.</p>
<p>And that’s how it always works. Regulations anymore are rarely about real health or safety issues, and almost always are sponsored by special interest groups seeking to either kill a competitive business, or by a group of people wishing to limit the activities and rights of others.</p>
<p>However, that &#160;makes the home owners look as if they are being spoiled whiners. So they got the <a href="http://www.lung.org/press-room/press-releases/cleaner-alternatives-for-winter-heat.html" type="external">American Lung Association</a> to claim the fire pits are a health hazard.
&#160;
“’Fire rings are creating hazards in communities that are damaging to one’s health and to the health of residents who live nearby,’ said Bonnie Holmes-Gen, senior director for policy and advocacy for the American Lung Association in California,” a recent story at <a href="http://news.heartland.org/newspaper-article/2013/07/09/california-board-seeks-ban-iconic-beach-firepits" type="external">Heartlandnews.org</a>&#160;explained.</p>
<p>“We’re very concerned about the impact of the smoke, … and it contributes to asthma attacks, strokes, a number of respiratory illnesses, and it can even cause premature death.”</p>
<p>The Wood Smoke Health website, “advocates for clean air,” <a href="http://woodsmokehealth.org/category/fire-rings/" type="external">concurs</a>.</p>
<p>This is a real “are you kidding me?” moment.</p>
<p>To answer the absurdity, as well as the loss of a treasured beach activity, Assemblyman Travis Allen, R-Huntington Beach, introduced <a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140ACR52" type="external">ACR 52</a>, honoring California’s beach lifestyle, and supportive of continuing access to California’s beaches and the enjoyment of beach bonfires in fire rings.</p>
<p>Allen is a resident of Huntington Beach and a surfer. “I am honored to commemorate California’s beaches and access to those beaches,” Allen said after introducing his resolution. “Activities such as beach bonfires are a beloved pastime that is a safe and inexpensive recreational activity enjoyed by all the members of our community. I look forward to joining my fellow legislators in honoring our beaches and the timeless community pastimes that our beaches provide.”</p>
<p>Bonfires on the beach are one of the remaining low-cost activities for Southern California beach visitors. But the bonfire ban has a long history thanks to the fairly recent bans on <a href="" type="external">stove and fireplace fires</a>. SCAQMD’s <a href="http://www.aqmd.gov/rules/proposed.html#445-444" type="external">Rule 444,</a>“Wood-burning Devices &amp; Open Burning,” also names the pesky wood fires are an unsafe and dangerous activity. It was natural for the environmental justice crowd to eventually go after beach bonfires.</p>
<p>Sacramento banned the use of fireplaces on “ <a href="http://sparetheair.com/burncheck.cfm" type="external">spare the air</a>” days, and encourages neighbors to rat out their wood-burning neighbors. This is particularly stupid given that Sacramento is located on <a href="http://traveltips.usatoday.com/rivers-sacramento-california-21950.html" type="external">two massive rivers</a> and <a href="http://www.restorethedelta.org" type="external">the Delta</a>, and enjoys daily breezy winds and the famous “Delta Breeze.”</p>
<p>In Sacramento we suffer from allergies thanks to the abundant agricultural valley in which we live; wood fires, not so much.</p>
<p>Ironic is the silence from the environmental justice crowd about the very real health and safety issues from wildfires – a subject rarely addressed by the Environmental Protection Agency, air quality districts, or environmental justice seekers.</p>
<p>The state and local governments earn significant revenue from beach visitors.</p>
<p>Banning bonfires has the potential to cut $1 million annually from parking revenue for the City of Huntington Beach.</p>
<p>The California State Parks of Orange County receives more than 11.9 million visitors annually, resulting in $19 million dollars in revenue.</p>
<p>A survey by the California State Parks found they could lose as much as 50 percent of the current revenue from camping, if bonfires and fire rings are banned.</p>
<p>“The negative economic impact on the many hoteliers, restaurateurs, grocery, retail and concessions that rely on visitor spending would be astounding. This does not even include the impact it would have on cities such as Newport Beach, Dana Point, and Los Angeles,” the <a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/south-coast-air-quality-management-district-governing-board-keep-the-fire-rings-on-our-beaches" type="external">petition to stop</a>the SCAQMD from banning bonfires says.</p>
<p>Allen has been hosting bonfires on most weekends for the community, to bring more focus to California beaches and the local community in Huntington Beach.</p>
<p>“California has a wonderful history and beach culture that is deeply woven into our communities, especially in Southern California,” <a href="http://arc.asm.ca.gov/member/AD72/?p=article&amp;sid=1132&amp;id=255061" type="external">said Assemblyman Allen</a>. “Beach bonfires are an essential part of the beach lifestyle that has helped define California around the world.&#160; ACR 52 further highlights a lifestyle that has brought people together for generations.”</p>
<p>The SCAQMD will vote on the regulations for the Southern California beach bonfires, and many bonfire supporters will be in attendance —&#160;Friday, July 12 at 9:00 a.m., at the SCAQMD Headquarters, 21865 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765.</p>
| false | 3 |
july 11 2013 katy grimes whenever environmental social justice activists want something banned create health safety reason supporting policy case attempt south coast air quality management district160to ban fire rings bonfires southern california beaches bonfire vanities160refers burning objects deemed occasions sin beach bonfires occasions joy happiness family friends apparently occasions joy happiness family friends offensive scqmd proposed amendments rule 444 would ban open burning beach areas fire rings important part beach experience 60 years 160save southern california beach bonfire rings explains website160and facebook page provide affordable means gathering family friends southern california shores celebrate outdoor beach lifestyle smores hotdog roasting stars enjoying glow warm fire would anyone want put end wholesome inexpensive family fun several reasons primary reason really driving bonfire ban area home owners live along ocean dont like crowds complained local officials noise night time bonfires even though bought property knowing attached publicly accessed beaches homeowners demanded government regulators ban fire pits keep people beaches night thats always works regulations anymore rarely real health safety issues almost always sponsored special interest groups seeking either kill competitive business group people wishing limit activities rights others however 160makes home owners look spoiled whiners got american lung association claim fire pits health hazard 160 fire rings creating hazards communities damaging ones health health residents live nearby said bonnie holmesgen senior director policy advocacy american lung association california recent story heartlandnewsorg160explained concerned impact smoke contributes asthma attacks strokes number respiratory illnesses even cause premature death wood smoke health website advocates clean air concurs real kidding moment answer absurdity well loss treasured beach activity assemblyman travis allen rhuntington beach introduced acr 52 honoring californias beach lifestyle supportive continuing access californias beaches enjoyment beach bonfires fire rings allen resident huntington beach surfer honored commemorate californias beaches access beaches allen said introducing resolution activities beach bonfires beloved pastime safe inexpensive recreational activity enjoyed members community look forward joining fellow legislators honoring beaches timeless community pastimes beaches provide bonfires beach one remaining lowcost activities southern california beach visitors bonfire ban long history thanks fairly recent bans stove fireplace fires scaqmds rule 444woodburning devices amp open burning also names pesky wood fires unsafe dangerous activity natural environmental justice crowd eventually go beach bonfires sacramento banned use fireplaces spare air days encourages neighbors rat woodburning neighbors particularly stupid given sacramento located two massive rivers delta enjoys daily breezy winds famous delta breeze sacramento suffer allergies thanks abundant agricultural valley live wood fires much ironic silence environmental justice crowd real health safety issues wildfires subject rarely addressed environmental protection agency air quality districts environmental justice seekers state local governments earn significant revenue beach visitors banning bonfires potential cut 1 million annually parking revenue city huntington beach california state parks orange county receives 119 million visitors annually resulting 19 million dollars revenue survey california state parks found could lose much 50 percent current revenue camping bonfires fire rings banned negative economic impact many hoteliers restaurateurs grocery retail concessions rely visitor spending would astounding even include impact would cities newport beach dana point los angeles petition stopthe scaqmd banning bonfires says allen hosting bonfires weekends community bring focus california beaches local community huntington beach california wonderful history beach culture deeply woven communities especially southern california said assemblyman allen beach bonfires essential part beach lifestyle helped define california around world160 acr 52 highlights lifestyle brought people together generations scaqmd vote regulations southern california beach bonfires many bonfire supporters attendance 160friday july 12 900 scaqmd headquarters 21865 copley drive diamond bar ca 91765
| 580 |
<p>LISBON, Portugal — The protesters braving police batons and freezing temperatures in Kyiv's Independence Square have been a timely reminder for jaded Westerners of the European Union's original ideals.</p>
<p>But while the Ukrainian demonstrators strive to defend their right to share the peace, democracy and free movement enshrined in the EU's treaties, leaders of the Union's 28 member nations gather for their year-end summit this week to discuss more arcane matters.</p>
<p>"Banking union now!" is unlikely to become a rallying cry that would ignite political passions.</p>
<p>For the presidents and prime ministers gathering in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, however, the complex package of "bank supervisory mechanisms" and "common resolution funds" on the table is crucial for preventing any repeat of crisis that’s bedeviled European economies for the past five years.</p>
<p>"For the general public, this is perhaps the least sexy theme around," Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta acknowledged last week.</p>
<p>"I defy any one to get people into the streets over banking union, but this is fundamentally important," he told a conference in Rome. "If we had had a banking union, we could have avoided these bailout funds and states could have saved millions of euros."</p>
<p>Some believe the rules to be thrashed out this week could be the EU's most important financial decision since the 1992 agreement to launch the euro, the currency shared by 17 member countries.</p>
<p>The aim is to end the "doom-loop," which has led indebted states and shaky banks to drag each other to the brink of bankruptcy with disastrous economic effects.</p>
<p>The worst cases have been in Ireland, where the government spent billions to rescue banks that had gambled and lost on a property bubble and other speculative investments; and Greece, whose soaring national debt undermined the banking system, sucking up credit and crippling business. Both countries were forced to accept bailouts from the EU and International Monetary Fund.</p>
<p>But it was fear that Spain's banks could lead the euro zone's fourth-largest economy to an Irish-style meltdown that convinced EU leaders action was needed. Since the start of the crisis in 2007, almost $2 trillion in public funds has been used to prop up ailing banks.</p>
<p>The banking union is supposed to ensure European taxpayers won't have to pay anymore.</p>
<p>The first stage was agreed last year: giving the European Central Bank powers to supervise the euro zone's 130 largest banks to ensure they don't get into trouble again.</p>
<p>This week, the leaders must fix a common mechanism for restructuring or shutting down failing banks — backed by a fund financed by bank levies to cover the costs; and a separate fund to guarantee the deposits of savers across the euro zone.</p>
<p>It may sound simple, but details and differences between governments have taken 18 months to thrash out. After a year of negotiations, hopes are that EU finance ministers will be able to outline a deal on the eve of the summit that leaders can finalize by Friday.</p>
<p>German cold feet has been one of the main reasons for the delay.</p>
<p>The EU's richest nation and biggest bailout contributor is keen to avoid further rescues. But Chancellor Angela Merkel is also worried Germany will be heavily committed to covering costs involved in the banking union.</p>
<p>Happy that EU supervisors will keep a close eye on risk-taking by banks in other countries, the Germans are also queasy about too many outside restrictions on their own leaders.</p>
<p>In particular, Berlin wants to avoid over-regulating local savings banks, which remain cherished backers of small business in Germany's states, despite the enthusiasm with which some joined in the sub-prime speculative jamboree that triggered the 2007 finance crisis.</p>
<p>Largely as a result of German insistence, the compromise plan expected to emerge this week is packed with checks and balances that would maintain national responsibilities and controls, and exceptions for smaller institutions that are tailor-made for Germany's state bank.</p>
<p>Among leading EU financial decision-makers, there are fears the complicated arrangements would make the banking union unwieldy, underfunded and unable to take the swift decisions needed to put a lid on banking crises.</p>
<p>"I am concerned that decision-making may become overly complex and financing arrangements may not be adequate," European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said Monday. "It is not possible to have hundreds of people consulting each other about the viability of a bank."</p>
<p>London's Financial Times this week estimated the latest proposals would require up to 126 people for a decision to shut down a medium-sized cross-border bank. Some would have to vote multiple times on up to nine different committees, the paper reported.</p>
<p>That hardly fits with the ECB's demands that the winding down of any failing bank would need to be handled over a weekend to avoid market panic.</p>
<p>Speaking at the European Parliament in Brussels, Draghi also expressed concern that individual euro zone members would be left to bear the prime responsibility for covering the costs of bank failures years after the adoption of the banking union plan.</p>
<p>The latest drafts contained provisions stipulated by Germany that euro zone-wide funding would be introduced only gradually over 10 years. Even then, the "Single Resolution Fund" — made up of levies from banks across the currency bloc — would be capped at 55 billion euros, or $76 billion.</p>
<p>"Responsibilities for supervision and resolution need to be aligned at the European level," Draghi told the lawmakers. "We should not create a Single Resolution Mechanism that is single in name only."</p>
<p>Many countries are asking for the Resolution Mechanism to be backed up by the 500 billion euro European Stability set up with public money to rescue countries in trouble. Germany opposes.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/united-kingdom/131216/britain-threatens-eu-free-movement-rights" type="external">UK threatens EU free-movement rights</a></p>
<p>Many worry those shortfalls could leave the EU vulnerable to a future banking crisis while continuing to hold back a return of economic confidence needed to help struggling southern European countries recover from the long recession.</p>
<p>"The draft agreement ... risks being ... a recipe for undue political interference and long negotiations, holding up resolution decisions with possibly serious systemic consequences," warns Alessandro Leipold, chief economist of The Lisbon Council, a Brussels-based think tank, in an analysis published Tuesday. He is also a former director of the International Monetary Fund's European Department.</p>
<p>"There is reason to lament,” he adds, “that the SRM as currently envisaged falls appreciably short of a true single authority, and tends to perpetuate (rather than break) the sovereign-bank link.”&#160;</p>
| false | 3 |
lisbon portugal protesters braving police batons freezing temperatures kyivs independence square timely reminder jaded westerners european unions original ideals ukrainian demonstrators strive defend right share peace democracy free movement enshrined eus treaties leaders unions 28 member nations gather yearend summit week discuss arcane matters banking union unlikely become rallying cry would ignite political passions presidents prime ministers gathering brussels thursday friday however complex package bank supervisory mechanisms common resolution funds table crucial preventing repeat crisis thats bedeviled european economies past five years general public perhaps least sexy theme around italian prime minister enrico letta acknowledged last week defy one get people streets banking union fundamentally important told conference rome banking union could avoided bailout funds states could saved millions euros believe rules thrashed week could eus important financial decision since 1992 agreement launch euro currency shared 17 member countries aim end doomloop led indebted states shaky banks drag brink bankruptcy disastrous economic effects worst cases ireland government spent billions rescue banks gambled lost property bubble speculative investments greece whose soaring national debt undermined banking system sucking credit crippling business countries forced accept bailouts eu international monetary fund fear spains banks could lead euro zones fourthlargest economy irishstyle meltdown convinced eu leaders action needed since start crisis 2007 almost 2 trillion public funds used prop ailing banks banking union supposed ensure european taxpayers wont pay anymore first stage agreed last year giving european central bank powers supervise euro zones 130 largest banks ensure dont get trouble week leaders must fix common mechanism restructuring shutting failing banks backed fund financed bank levies cover costs separate fund guarantee deposits savers across euro zone may sound simple details differences governments taken 18 months thrash year negotiations hopes eu finance ministers able outline deal eve summit leaders finalize friday german cold feet one main reasons delay eus richest nation biggest bailout contributor keen avoid rescues chancellor angela merkel also worried germany heavily committed covering costs involved banking union happy eu supervisors keep close eye risktaking banks countries germans also queasy many outside restrictions leaders particular berlin wants avoid overregulating local savings banks remain cherished backers small business germanys states despite enthusiasm joined subprime speculative jamboree triggered 2007 finance crisis largely result german insistence compromise plan expected emerge week packed checks balances would maintain national responsibilities controls exceptions smaller institutions tailormade germanys state bank among leading eu financial decisionmakers fears complicated arrangements would make banking union unwieldy underfunded unable take swift decisions needed put lid banking crises concerned decisionmaking may become overly complex financing arrangements may adequate european central bank president mario draghi said monday possible hundreds people consulting viability bank londons financial times week estimated latest proposals would require 126 people decision shut mediumsized crossborder bank would vote multiple times nine different committees paper reported hardly fits ecbs demands winding failing bank would need handled weekend avoid market panic speaking european parliament brussels draghi also expressed concern individual euro zone members would left bear prime responsibility covering costs bank failures years adoption banking union plan latest drafts contained provisions stipulated germany euro zonewide funding would introduced gradually 10 years even single resolution fund made levies banks across currency bloc would capped 55 billion euros 76 billion responsibilities supervision resolution need aligned european level draghi told lawmakers create single resolution mechanism single name many countries asking resolution mechanism backed 500 billion euro european stability set public money rescue countries trouble germany opposes globalpost160 uk threatens eu freemovement rights many worry shortfalls could leave eu vulnerable future banking crisis continuing hold back return economic confidence needed help struggling southern european countries recover long recession draft agreement risks recipe undue political interference long negotiations holding resolution decisions possibly serious systemic consequences warns alessandro leipold chief economist lisbon council brusselsbased think tank analysis published tuesday also former director international monetary funds european department reason lament adds srm currently envisaged falls appreciably short true single authority tends perpetuate rather break sovereignbank link160
| 652 |
<p>MAR. 5, 2012</p>
<p>By KATY GRIMES</p>
<p>Middle-aged, greying 1960s radicals, pimply faced kids, teachers, throngs of SEIU members, angry Occupy protestors, and union members of all kinds descended upon the state Capitol Monday. They demanded, “Wall Street and the wealthy 1 percent, pay to refund education, jobs, essential services, and a better future.”</p>
<p>The protest was&#160;sponsored by the California Teachers Association and the Occupy movement.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>The protest even included roving bands of gang-attired youth probably not connected to education, dreadlock-wearing Rastafarians, earth children and the unmistakable sweet smell of marijuana wafting about.</p>
<p>Vapid stares, body odor, anger and an abundant use of the “F” word, some attended the rally with an express purpose in mind, while others appeared less committed and just were&#160;there for the chanting and day off of school.</p>
<p>“Enough is enough,” came the rally cry from college student body presidents. “We stand in solidarity,” said one speaker as&#160; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Che_Guevara" type="external">Che Guevara</a> signs waived wildly.</p>
<p>Shortly into the protest, it became clear that the rally really was about passing Gov. Jerry Brown’s $7 billion&#160; <a href="http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Jerry_Brown's_California_Tax_Increase_Initiative_(2012)" type="external">tax-increase ballot initiative</a>, and the attendees were just human props.</p>
<p>Brown’s <a href="http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Jerry_Brown's_California_Tax_Increase_Initiative_(2012)" type="external">tax increase proposal</a>, if approved, will:</p>
<p>* Increase the state income tax levied on annual earnings over $250,000 for five years. * Increase the state’s sales and use tax by&#160;half a&#160;cent for four years. * Allocate 89 percent of these temporary tax revenues to K-12 schools and 11 percent to community colleges. <a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Senenate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, spoke to the thousands of protestors and outlined his goals:</p>
<p>1. Removing “Republican obstructionists” who were able last year to block the majority vote preventing passage of Brown’s state budget, which included tax increases. They blocked the tax increases even after voters passed Proposition 25 in 2010, a measure that allowed a majority vote of the Legislature instead of the previous two-thirds vote requirement&#160;in favor of the budget. Democrats were unable to get the budget passed without Republican help in 2011 because&#160;of the tax increases within it.</p>
<p>2. “Chant in November to pass the revenue measure,” Steinberg said.</p>
<p>3. Steinberg asked students to support Assembly Speaker John Perez’s <a href="http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/Bills/AB_1500/20112012/" type="external">AB 1500</a> and AB 1501 “to end tax loopholes for billionaires,” thereby funding a “two-thirds savings” on college tuition for middle class students. There was no talk about the more than 50 percent of California college students who already&#160; <a href="http://www.lao.ca.gov/sections/higher_ed/FAQs/Higher_Education_Issue_05.pdf" type="external">do not pay for school</a>&#160;at the state’s public colleges and universities, or the dropout rate of 50 percent of first-year college students.</p>
<p>4. Affordable textbooks. This is where Steinberg and I will mostly agree, since the college textbook scam has a long and profitable history for the professor-authors. “A statistics textbook should not cost $240,” Steinberg said. And to end this high cost, &#160;Steinberg said that he has&#160;introduced&#160;&#160; <a href="http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/Bills/SB_1052/20112012/" type="external">SB 1052</a> and <a href="http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/Bills/SB_1053/20112012/" type="external">SB 1053</a>, which are supposed to address this problem. Steinberg said that&#160;textbooks should cost $20 or less.</p>
<p>But the <a href="http://www.aroundthecapitol.com/Bills/SB_1052/20112012/" type="external">bills</a> would add provisions to the <a href="http://www.ucop.edu/acadinit/mastplan/donahoe.htm" type="external">Donahoe Higher Education Act</a> to establish a new California Open Education Resources Council of&#160;nine members, including&#160;three faculty members from each of the public postsecondary segments, selected by the respective faculty senates of each segment. It’s just another state commission, but this one is for the CTA.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Signs were everywhere demanding a free education:</p>
<p>“FUND OUR FUTURE.”</p>
<p>“MAKE THE BANKS PAY.”</p>
<p>“OCCUPY EDUCATION.”</p>
<p>“MAKE THE 1&#160;PERCENT PAY.”</p>
<p>“DON’T TAKE AWAY MY EDUCATION.”</p>
<p>“NO MONEY — NO EDUCATION.”</p>
<p>“THE WORKERS’ STRUGGLE HAS NO BORDERS.”</p>
<p>“DEMOCRACY, NOT PLUTOCRACY.”</p>
<p>A large group was wearing t-shirts that read,&#160;“Education is the key — give us the key to set us free.”</p>
<p>And, of course, the purple-shirted <a href="http://www.seiu.org/" type="external">State Employees International Union</a> members were en masse. I even saw SEIU jackets on tough-looking guys.</p>
<p>There was a minor dust-up between police and a bicyclist, when police asked the guy to not ride through the crowd. Predictably, he yelled at police, demanding rights and insisting that it wasn’t illegal to ride a bike at the Capitol. I had seen this guy earlier with a group of militant bicyclists, identified with matching t-shirts. They weren’t there for the education rally.</p>
<p>It got interesting when a loudmouth guy with a bullhorn started calling the police names. “Get those animals off those horses,” the bullhorn guy and his group screamed at the mounted police.</p>
<p>When another police officer asked him to stop yelling obscenities, he didn’t react well. “You’re protecting the people who f*****d us over,” he screamed, obviously a little tightly wound.</p>
<p>While there were many police officers present, they were mostly in the background or on the periphery of the Capitol. It was protestors, like the bullhorn guy, who went out of their way to goad the police.</p>
<p>Bullhorn fellow tried to gin up his group by bringing up the Occupy Oakland protests. Instead of engaging, some of his group walked away. “Five hundred years of oppression, and look where it’s got us,” said a black protestor who had been hanging out with bullhorn guy’s group.</p>
<p>As noon neared, most of the students left the Capitol and filled up local restaurants. Protest leaders remained, and headed into the Capitol for meetings.</p>
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mar 5 2012 katy grimes middleaged greying 1960s radicals pimply faced kids teachers throngs seiu members angry occupy protestors union members kinds descended upon state capitol monday demanded wall street wealthy 1 percent pay refund education jobs essential services better future protest was160sponsored california teachers association occupy movement protest even included roving bands gangattired youth probably connected education dreadlockwearing rastafarians earth children unmistakable sweet smell marijuana wafting vapid stares body odor anger abundant use f word attended rally express purpose mind others appeared less committed were160there chanting day school enough enough came rally cry college student body presidents stand solidarity said one speaker as160 che guevara signs waived wildly shortly protest became clear rally really passing gov jerry browns 7 billion160 taxincrease ballot initiative attendees human props browns tax increase proposal approved increase state income tax levied annual earnings 250000 five years increase states sales use tax by160half a160cent four years allocate 89 percent temporary tax revenues k12 schools 11 percent community colleges senenate president pro tem darrell steinberg dsacramento spoke thousands protestors outlined goals 1 removing republican obstructionists able last year block majority vote preventing passage browns state budget included tax increases blocked tax increases even voters passed proposition 25 2010 measure allowed majority vote legislature instead previous twothirds vote requirement160in favor budget democrats unable get budget passed without republican help 2011 because160of tax increases within 2 chant november pass revenue measure steinberg said 3 steinberg asked students support assembly speaker john perezs ab 1500 ab 1501 end tax loopholes billionaires thereby funding twothirds savings college tuition middle class students talk 50 percent california college students already160 pay school160at states public colleges universities dropout rate 50 percent firstyear college students 4 affordable textbooks steinberg mostly agree since college textbook scam long profitable history professorauthors statistics textbook cost 240 steinberg said end high cost 160steinberg said has160introduced160160 sb 1052 sb 1053 supposed address problem steinberg said that160textbooks cost 20 less bills would add provisions donahoe higher education act establish new california open education resources council of160nine members including160three faculty members public postsecondary segments selected respective faculty senates segment another state commission one cta signs everywhere demanding free education fund future make banks pay occupy education make 1160percent pay dont take away education money education workers struggle borders democracy plutocracy large group wearing tshirts read160education key give us key set us free course purpleshirted state employees international union members en masse even saw seiu jackets toughlooking guys minor dustup police bicyclist police asked guy ride crowd predictably yelled police demanding rights insisting wasnt illegal ride bike capitol seen guy earlier group militant bicyclists identified matching tshirts werent education rally got interesting loudmouth guy bullhorn started calling police names get animals horses bullhorn guy group screamed mounted police another police officer asked stop yelling obscenities didnt react well youre protecting people fd us screamed obviously little tightly wound many police officers present mostly background periphery capitol protestors like bullhorn guy went way goad police bullhorn fellow tried gin group bringing occupy oakland protests instead engaging group walked away five hundred years oppression look got us said black protestor hanging bullhorn guys group noon neared students left capitol filled local restaurants protest leaders remained headed capitol meetings
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<p>
The terrible drought afflicting the American West has sparked soul-searching about water management in the region. For the first time in many decades, the viability of dams and other infrastructure that supply water to cities and farms throughout the region has entered the conversation.</p>
<p>Abrahm Lustgarten, a reporter for ProPublica, has <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/drought-provokes-debate-on-unplugging-great-dams-of-american-west" type="external">written a new story</a> about one of the largest dams in the US, Glen Canyon, and a recent push to open up its gates. It’s a remarkable development, he says, given how important the Colorado River dams — Glen Canyon, with its reservoir, Lake Powell, and Hoover&#160;with Lake Meade — have been for the development of the West.</p>
<p>In the early 1900s, the US government started building dams up and down the Colorado River to harness its water and distribute it far outside the river's natural course — hundreds of miles into Arizona and California. The dams, particularly the Hoover Dam, were also intended to control the torrential floods that would come downstream in big water years.</p>
<p>“Glen Canyon Dam was built in the 1950s, at the tail end of this building spree,” Lustgarten explains. “The upper basin states on the Colorado River — Wyoming, Colorado New Mexico, and Utah — were worried that the lower basin states — California, Arizona and Nevada — were taking too much water and were growing too fast, and they basically wanted a gate. Glen Canyon Dam was built as their way to hold back water so they wouldn't have to give more than they were legally required to those states in the south.”</p>
<p>Now, given the realities of climate change and a drought that shows no sign of abating, the reservoir at Lake Powell may have outlived its usefulness, Lustgarten says — especially given the amount of water that is lost to evaporation.</p>
<p>“The big dams on the Colorado River were built to save water, but because the water is spread over such a large area in such a hot and dry environment, an enormous amount evaporates off the surface,” Lustgarten says. “That didn't matter so much in the past, but as water becomes more and more scarce, that loss is significant enough to make a real difference.”</p>
<p>Lake Powell loses about 350,000 acre feet of water each year to evaporation. Combined with the amount of water that seeps out the bottom of the lake — an additional 380,000 acre feet — that’s enough to supply about nine million people with water each year — roughly the population of the city of Los Angeles. Lake Mead loses a similar amount and so do each of the reservoirs up and down the Colorado River system, Lustgarten notes. “When you add all that up in a system that is [already] over-allocated every single year, you see an inefficiency that could add roughly 30 percent more to the river's flow.”</p>
<p>There are no easy ways to address this inefficiency, Lustgarten says. But what’s changing the discussion is the fact that both Lake Powell and Lake Mead are essentially drying up.</p>
<p>“Lake Mead is now about 37 percent full. Lake Powell is just a little bit less than half full,” Lustgarten explains. “Both reservoirs still lose an enormous amount to evaporation and they're not functioning at their full capacity, in terms of the power they generate or the amount of water that they hold. So the ratio of inefficiency to benefit has changed substantially over the last decade or so of drought.”</p>
<p>A proposal from an environmental organization called the <a href="http://www.glencanyon.org" type="external">Glen Canyon Institute</a> suggests combining the two reservoirs. If they are&#160;both half-full, their reasoning goes, then empty Lake Powell and combine it with Lake Mead. The region would not lose the water, but send it 300 miles downstream and re-collect it in one full, large reservoir. This would significantly decrease the amount of water lost to evaporation, and increase the power generating capacity of Hoover Dam, which helps make up for the loss of power generation at Glen Canyon dam. An added bonus is the opportunity to restore the landscape of Glen Canyon.</p>
<p>Most of the resistance to this idea comes from the upper basin states, according to Lustgarten. They say removing Glen Canyon Dam would require a renegotiation of the Colorado River Compact — a legal agreement to send seven-and-a-half million acre feet of water down to the south every single year — congressional approval and an involved bureaucratic process. What that really means, Lustgarten says, is that they don't want to lose hands-on control over their water.</p>
<p>Legal experts Lustgarten consulted suggest that both the upper and lower basins could share the water out of Lake Mead. “It doesn't have to continue in the traditional role of serving only the southern basins,” he explains. “The accounting for the water could still happen at a place called Lee's Ferry, where it happens now, just below the site of the Glen Canyon Dam.”</p>
<p>So how realistic is it to think of opening the gates of the Glen Canyon dam in the face of political pressure from states upstream? The short-term answer from deputy secretary of interior Mike Connor, the person ultimately in charge of water in the West, is not very; this is not something that is going to happen anytime soon.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, Lustgarten says, a conversation seen as laughable just a few years ago is now taking place in a serious way. The idea of a dam not suiting its original purpose is a topic that can now be broached, he says.</p>
<p>Whatever happens, or whenever it happens, the bottom line is that “the Colorado River will never be sustainable until the amount of water the states take from it matches what is naturally available,” Lustgarten says. “If that doesn’t change, if the states continue every single year to draw more water than flows out of it, then these reservoirs are going to drain. It could take another ten years it could take another two years, but they’re going to drain to the bottom.”</p>
<p>This article is based on an <a href="http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.html?programID=16-P13-00024&amp;segmentID=5" type="external">interview</a> that aired on PRI's <a href="http://www.loe.org/index.html" type="external">Living on Earth</a> with Steve Curwood</p>
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terrible drought afflicting american west sparked soulsearching water management region first time many decades viability dams infrastructure supply water cities farms throughout region entered conversation abrahm lustgarten reporter propublica written new story one largest dams us glen canyon recent push open gates remarkable development says given important colorado river dams glen canyon reservoir lake powell hoover160with lake meade development west early 1900s us government started building dams colorado river harness water distribute far outside rivers natural course hundreds miles arizona california dams particularly hoover dam also intended control torrential floods would come downstream big water years glen canyon dam built 1950s tail end building spree lustgarten explains upper basin states colorado river wyoming colorado new mexico utah worried lower basin states california arizona nevada taking much water growing fast basically wanted gate glen canyon dam built way hold back water wouldnt give legally required states south given realities climate change drought shows sign abating reservoir lake powell may outlived usefulness lustgarten says especially given amount water lost evaporation big dams colorado river built save water water spread large area hot dry environment enormous amount evaporates surface lustgarten says didnt matter much past water becomes scarce loss significant enough make real difference lake powell loses 350000 acre feet water year evaporation combined amount water seeps bottom lake additional 380000 acre feet thats enough supply nine million people water year roughly population city los angeles lake mead loses similar amount reservoirs colorado river system lustgarten notes add system already overallocated every single year see inefficiency could add roughly 30 percent rivers flow easy ways address inefficiency lustgarten says whats changing discussion fact lake powell lake mead essentially drying lake mead 37 percent full lake powell little bit less half full lustgarten explains reservoirs still lose enormous amount evaporation theyre functioning full capacity terms power generate amount water hold ratio inefficiency benefit changed substantially last decade drought proposal environmental organization called glen canyon institute suggests combining two reservoirs are160both halffull reasoning goes empty lake powell combine lake mead region would lose water send 300 miles downstream recollect one full large reservoir would significantly decrease amount water lost evaporation increase power generating capacity hoover dam helps make loss power generation glen canyon dam added bonus opportunity restore landscape glen canyon resistance idea comes upper basin states according lustgarten say removing glen canyon dam would require renegotiation colorado river compact legal agreement send sevenandahalf million acre feet water south every single year congressional approval involved bureaucratic process really means lustgarten says dont want lose handson control water legal experts lustgarten consulted suggest upper lower basins could share water lake mead doesnt continue traditional role serving southern basins explains accounting water could still happen place called lees ferry happens site glen canyon dam realistic think opening gates glen canyon dam face political pressure states upstream shortterm answer deputy secretary interior mike connor person ultimately charge water west something going happen anytime soon nevertheless lustgarten says conversation seen laughable years ago taking place serious way idea dam suiting original purpose topic broached says whatever happens whenever happens bottom line colorado river never sustainable amount water states take matches naturally available lustgarten says doesnt change states continue every single year draw water flows reservoirs going drain could take another ten years could take another two years theyre going drain bottom article based interview aired pris living earth steve curwood
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<p>Math instruction in the United States is “an inch deep and a mile wide,” leaving students with little knowledge because teachers try to cover too much territory, according to a massive international comparison of student achievement and teaching practices. Compared to teachers in countries with higher math achievement, American teachers are tackling an ever wider range of math topics each year, the Third International Math and Science Study (TIMSS) found.</p>
<p>“In other countries, they might spend a month on a topic while we spend days on a topic,” says William Schmidt, the U.S. research coordinator for TIMSS. The “inch-deep” coverage makes it harder for students to remember what they learned. “Then next year, since they’ve forgotten it all, we have to review it.” As a result, extensive time is spent each year on the same basic skills.</p>
<p>What’s working against the U.S., researchers say, is a complex set of cultural ideas about school organization, curriculum design, local autonomy, the role of educational policy and even teaching itself.</p>
<p>The most troubled spot for American mathematics education is in the middle-school years, researchers say, drawing on data collected in more than 40 countries in 1994 and 1995. Where American students scored just above the international average in 4th-grade math, they had slipped below the average by 8th grade; by 12th grade, the U.S. was among the lowest-scoring countries.</p>
<p>Researchers blame this pattern on the heavy repetition of basic skills that begins in 5th grade and persists through grade 8. Students fall so far behind in those years, Schmidt explains, that they never have a chance to catch up. “The middle school math and science curriculum is an intellectual wasteland,” he says. “We seriously deprive our kids of intellectual work during those years.”</p>
<p>Part of the problem, he believes, is that the U.S., unlike other countries, tends to think of middle school as the end of elementary school rather than the start of secondary school. One manifestation is that American 8th-graders are still working on arithmetic while 8th-graders in other countries have moved on to algebra and geometry.</p>
<p>TIMMS researchers also blame repetition on a prevailing philosophy about math curriculum design: that math topics should be revisited each year but at a higher level, a practice known as spiraling. The theory is that concepts are best learned when they are presented in gradually increasing complexity. The reality, Schmidt finds, is that topics are repeated at the same low level. “From the evidence we have, any attempts to produce a spiral curriculum have just had kids go in a circle.” Countries that study a topic in depth and move on get better results, he says, because kids retain what they learn.</p>
<p>Textbooks also aggravate the inch-deep, mile-wide problem. TIMSS found that in the United States, only 25 percent of topics taught in the typical 8th-grade math textbook were new since the 4th grade. For most countries in the study, 75 percent of the topics were new since the 4th grade. American math textbooks are longer as well— averaging 530 pages at the 4th-grade level, compared to the international average of 170.</p>
<p>Textbook publishers aren’t wholly to blame, researchers say. To sell textbooks, they aim to please a broad range of consumers: States with different academic standards. Districts with their own guidelines or philosophical approaches. Back-to-basics parent groups. Professional organizations that issue standards. “Any group that wants to get together can say ‘Here’s what kids should know in math,’ and if enough people say it, then the textbooks will put it in, and you end up with a mess,” Schmidt says.</p>
<p>Countries that outperformed the United States in TIMSS tended to have more uniform standards. Schmidt advocates a set of national standards for academics at each grade level. “There are no magic bullets here, but a coherent set of standards would go a long way towards providing a foundation for serious reform.”</p>
<p>Other TIMSS research suggests that reforming math education in the U.S. also will take a change in deeply ingrained teaching practices.</p>
<p>As part of TIMSS, researchers videotaped a random sample of American, German and Japanese math lessons and interviewed the teachers about their classroom practices. In the United States, nearly all the teachers said they were familiar with standards documents, such as those issued in 1989 by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and had implemented them in their classrooms. Very few, it turned out, actually had.</p>
<p>The NCTM standards, for example, call for rote computation to be replaced with activities that convey a deeper conceptual understanding of mathematics. To reach that goal, the standards suggest the use of “math manipulatives,” technology, group work and other strategies. The TIMSS videotape study revealed that teachers had in fact adopted the teaching strategies but ignored the mathematics.</p>
<p>Instead of computing without understanding concepts, students were engaged in hands-on activities without understanding concepts, says NCTM President Glenda Lappan. Teachers failed to communicate clearly the underlying concepts in the math activities and make sure students understood them, she explains. Rather, teachers seemed to look on the instructional strategies as an end in themselves. “You can put kids into groups and say you’re meeting the standards because [they] say you should get students actively involved. But that’s not the point of the standards.”</p>
<p>Reform pendulum</p>
<p>“It’s very difficult to change something that is as deeply ingrained as teaching methods,” says video study author James Stigler of the University of California at Los Angeles. “Teaching methods are highly culture specific. You learn them through years and years of being a student.”</p>
<p>Consequently, educational reforms swing like a pendulum between “back-to-basics” and “progressive” teaching methods—with only superficial impact on the classroom, Stigler says. When test scores don’t rise as a result of one reform, “everyone assumes that the [reform] must be wrong, so we go out and try to do the opposite. Nobody ever goes to check what effect policies have on classrooms. They have very little.”</p>
<p>Teaching practices are surprisingly uniform across the United States, Stigler says, despite the value Americans place on local control and teacher autonomy. Whether from New York City or the deep south, California or Montana, teachers in his video study displayed a remarkably similar teaching style. German and Japanese teachers also had a style particular to their culture.</p>
<p>American math lessons followed this pattern: The teacher would present the procedure for solving a particular kind of problem and then guide the class through solving example problems on the board or overhead projector. Then students would work problems on their own while the teacher helped individual students.</p>
<p>Japanese math lessons also followed a distinct pattern: The teacher would present a complex and unfamiliar problem. Students would struggle to solve it and then present different solutions, which the class would discuss. One or more problems would be worked through in this way. At the end of the lesson, the teacher would highlight the central concepts in the lesson.</p>
<p>What characterized American lessons was “a real emphasis on procedures and skills over understanding.” Stigler explains. As part of the study, a panel of mathematicians reviewed transcripts of the lessons in which countries were not identified. The math content of each lesson was rated high, medium, or low. None of the American lessons received a high rating; 89 percent were rated low. German lessons landed fairly evenly in each category. Nearly 90 percent of Japanese lessons earned a medium or high rating.</p>
<p>Stigler’s study also identified cultural differences in the way teachers work together. Japanese teachers often visited each others’ classrooms and critiqued the lessons they observed. American teachers avoided criticism and instead engaged in a “vague sharing of ideas or discussions about individual kids,” he says.</p>
<p>Stigler suspects that the real reason American teachers don’t collaborate more effectively is that they have so little time to do it. “There’s no tradition of what to do with collaborative time. They have no idea of how to structure it.”</p>
<p>Where American elementary teachers might spend nearly all of a six-hour school day teaching, Japanese teachers spend only four hours of an eight- or nine-hour day in the classroom. In Japan, teachers have desks in a shared office space where they meet and refine lessons together.</p>
<p>Cause for hope</p>
<p>Some experts say that it’s a cultural assumption that the kind of collaboration expected in the business world isn’t necessary in teaching.</p>
<p>“Imagine that you’re a business person and you have to make a crucial presentation that’s critical to the success of your client and the future of your organization,” says Terry Dozier, the U.S. Secretary of Education’s Special Advisor on Teaching. “But you have no time to confer with your colleagues, no time to prepare. You have to do it at home, unpaid, alone, on your own time. And you have to do it day after day, 180 days a year. What we’re asking of American teachers is unbelievable.”</p>
<p>Despite the obstacles to improving math instruction in the United States, experts see cause for hope. School reform advocates have made professional development time for teachers a priority issue, and some districts are taking note, according to Dozier. “Achieve,” a group of governors and CEOs, is helping states work together on creating more uniform academic standards, Schmidt reports. The National Science Foundation has funded math programs that Lappan says are more closely aligned with NCTM standards than are traditional textbooks. The math programs are just now becoming commercially available.</p>
<p>Stigler thinks instruction can improve if Americans stop relying on public policies to change teaching. Instead, he says, they should take a lesson from the Japanese, who expect gradual improvements through the collective efforts of teachers and have no concept of education reform. “They don’t write reports and hand them out to teachers and assume it will change the way they teach. That’s a very American thing.”</p>
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math instruction united states inch deep mile wide leaving students little knowledge teachers try cover much territory according massive international comparison student achievement teaching practices compared teachers countries higher math achievement american teachers tackling ever wider range math topics year third international math science study timss found countries might spend month topic spend days topic says william schmidt us research coordinator timss inchdeep coverage makes harder students remember learned next year since theyve forgotten review result extensive time spent year basic skills whats working us researchers say complex set cultural ideas school organization curriculum design local autonomy role educational policy even teaching troubled spot american mathematics education middleschool years researchers say drawing data collected 40 countries 1994 1995 american students scored international average 4thgrade math slipped average 8th grade 12th grade us among lowestscoring countries researchers blame pattern heavy repetition basic skills begins 5th grade persists grade 8 students fall far behind years schmidt explains never chance catch middle school math science curriculum intellectual wasteland says seriously deprive kids intellectual work years part problem believes us unlike countries tends think middle school end elementary school rather start secondary school one manifestation american 8thgraders still working arithmetic 8thgraders countries moved algebra geometry timms researchers also blame repetition prevailing philosophy math curriculum design math topics revisited year higher level practice known spiraling theory concepts best learned presented gradually increasing complexity reality schmidt finds topics repeated low level evidence attempts produce spiral curriculum kids go circle countries study topic depth move get better results says kids retain learn textbooks also aggravate inchdeep milewide problem timss found united states 25 percent topics taught typical 8thgrade math textbook new since 4th grade countries study 75 percent topics new since 4th grade american math textbooks longer well averaging 530 pages 4thgrade level compared international average 170 textbook publishers arent wholly blame researchers say sell textbooks aim please broad range consumers states different academic standards districts guidelines philosophical approaches backtobasics parent groups professional organizations issue standards group wants get together say heres kids know math enough people say textbooks put end mess schmidt says countries outperformed united states timss tended uniform standards schmidt advocates set national standards academics grade level magic bullets coherent set standards would go long way towards providing foundation serious reform timss research suggests reforming math education us also take change deeply ingrained teaching practices part timss researchers videotaped random sample american german japanese math lessons interviewed teachers classroom practices united states nearly teachers said familiar standards documents issued 1989 national council teachers mathematics nctm implemented classrooms turned actually nctm standards example call rote computation replaced activities convey deeper conceptual understanding mathematics reach goal standards suggest use math manipulatives technology group work strategies timss videotape study revealed teachers fact adopted teaching strategies ignored mathematics instead computing without understanding concepts students engaged handson activities without understanding concepts says nctm president glenda lappan teachers failed communicate clearly underlying concepts math activities make sure students understood explains rather teachers seemed look instructional strategies end put kids groups say youre meeting standards say get students actively involved thats point standards reform pendulum difficult change something deeply ingrained teaching methods says video study author james stigler university california los angeles teaching methods highly culture specific learn years years student consequently educational reforms swing like pendulum backtobasics progressive teaching methodswith superficial impact classroom stigler says test scores dont rise result one reform everyone assumes reform must wrong go try opposite nobody ever goes check effect policies classrooms little teaching practices surprisingly uniform across united states stigler says despite value americans place local control teacher autonomy whether new york city deep south california montana teachers video study displayed remarkably similar teaching style german japanese teachers also style particular culture american math lessons followed pattern teacher would present procedure solving particular kind problem guide class solving example problems board overhead projector students would work problems teacher helped individual students japanese math lessons also followed distinct pattern teacher would present complex unfamiliar problem students would struggle solve present different solutions class would discuss one problems would worked way end lesson teacher would highlight central concepts lesson characterized american lessons real emphasis procedures skills understanding stigler explains part study panel mathematicians reviewed transcripts lessons countries identified math content lesson rated high medium low none american lessons received high rating 89 percent rated low german lessons landed fairly evenly category nearly 90 percent japanese lessons earned medium high rating stiglers study also identified cultural differences way teachers work together japanese teachers often visited others classrooms critiqued lessons observed american teachers avoided criticism instead engaged vague sharing ideas discussions individual kids says stigler suspects real reason american teachers dont collaborate effectively little time theres tradition collaborative time idea structure american elementary teachers might spend nearly sixhour school day teaching japanese teachers spend four hours eight ninehour day classroom japan teachers desks shared office space meet refine lessons together cause hope experts say cultural assumption kind collaboration expected business world isnt necessary teaching imagine youre business person make crucial presentation thats critical success client future organization says terry dozier us secretary educations special advisor teaching time confer colleagues time prepare home unpaid alone time day day 180 days year asking american teachers unbelievable despite obstacles improving math instruction united states experts see cause hope school reform advocates made professional development time teachers priority issue districts taking note according dozier achieve group governors ceos helping states work together creating uniform academic standards schmidt reports national science foundation funded math programs lappan says closely aligned nctm standards traditional textbooks math programs becoming commercially available stigler thinks instruction improve americans stop relying public policies change teaching instead says take lesson japanese expect gradual improvements collective efforts teachers concept education reform dont write reports hand teachers assume change way teach thats american thing
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<p><a href="https://friendsofjustice.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/jeffress.jpg" type="external" /></p>
<p>The Rev.&#160;Robert Jeffress&#160; <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/07/10/pastor-robert-jeffress-tells-fox-jesus-would-have-wanted-a-border-fence/?onswipe_redirect=no&amp;oswrr=1" type="external">thinks Jesus would build a fence at the U.S. border so desperate children from violence-ridden countries would be discouraged from&#160;</a>heading north.</p>
<p>“Yes, Jesus loved children,” Jeffress admits, “but he also respected law. He said, render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars.”</p>
<p>In other words, Christians shouldn’t trouble themselves with immigration policy; that’s Caesar’s concern.</p>
<p>Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, once suggested that Barack Obama is preparing the world for the coming of Antichrist, so his “Caesar” reference probably doesn’t mean that we should leave immigration policy in the hands of the presiding president. &#160;He means instead that everything Jesus said about welcoming children, and all the warnings he pronounced against those who harden their hearts against the pain of young ones, is irrelevant to American immigration policy.</p>
<p>Sure, Christians must be kind to the children they encounter within the suburban bubble, but the boys and girls of Honduras simply are on their own.</p>
<p>Since nothing can be done for the unaccompanied migrant children on our doorstep, the most compassionate course is to build a border wall so thick and so tall that the poor little blighters will have no choice but to return to the violence and squalor that drove them into the arms of America.</p>
<p>That young girl of seven or eight, carrying her two-year old sister on her back has spawned a crisis of conscience among American Christians.</p>
<p>On the whole, we have responded admirably. &#160;“This is an unfortunate, even awful, situation for everyone,”&#160; <a href="" type="internal">said David Hardage</a>, &#160;Executive Director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. “So much of what has happened and is happening is out of our control. What we can control is our response to human need. We will try to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need.”</p>
<p>Hardage sees Jesus standing on the side of desperate children, an assumption shared by most Texas Baptists.</p>
<p>Terry Henderson, state disaster relief director for Texas Baptist Men, compressed <a href="" type="internal">&#160;the issue to a simple question</a>:&#160;“If Jesus was standing here with us, what would he tell us to do? That sounds kind of basic, but that’s the deal.”</p>
<p>That’s supposed to be a rhetorical question, but Robert Jeffress doesn’t provide the expected answer. &#160;He thinks Jesus would slam the door. &#160;Call it tough love.</p>
<p>The disagreement between Jeffress and mainstream Texas Baptists cuts to heart of what Christian faith is all about. &#160;The pastor of First Baptist Dallas grew up under the preaching of W.A. Criswell. &#160;In 1956, when Jeffress was but a babe in arms, Criswell stood before a gathering of Southern Baptist evangelists in South Carolina and&#160; <a href="http://jsr.fsu.edu/Volume10/Freeman.pdf" type="external">issued a call to arms</a>.</p>
<p>Describing the sort of fiery ordeals they must face, Criswell segued into a heated attack on the forces of desegregation. He expressed astonishment at the cowardice of ministers “whose forebears [sic] and predecessors were martyrs and were burned at the stake” but who themselves refuse to speak up about “this thing of integration.” True ministers, he argued, must passionately resist government mandated desegregation because it is “a denial of all that we believe in.”</p>
<p>Like his childhood pastor and mentor, Rev. Jeffress doubts Southern Baptist pastors can win the culture war&#160; <a href="http://onenewsnow.com//church/2012/12/13/pastor-%E2%80%98wimpy%E2%80%99-won%E2%80%99t-cut-it-in-culture-war#.U8AzNPldVfU" type="external">unless they man up</a>.</p>
<p>“A lot of Christian leaders see Jesus as this little, wimpy guy who walked around plucking daisies and eating birdseed and saying nice things, but never doing anything controversial. The fact is, Jesus did confront his culture with truth — and he ended up being crucified because of it . . .&#160;Wimpy pastors produce wimpy Christians — and that is why we are losing this culture war. &#160;I believe it’s time for pastors to say,&#160;You know, I don’t care about controversy, I don’t care whether I’m going to lose church members, I don’t care about building a big church. I’m going to stand for truth regardless of what happens.”</p>
<p>Wally Amos Criswell lived to regret his defense of Jim Crow segregation. &#160; <a href="http://jsr.fsu.edu/Volume10/Freeman.pdf" type="external">“Never have I been so blind,</a>” he confessed a decade later. &#160;Is the current pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas headed for a confession of similar moment?</p>
<p>No time soon, I’m afraid. &#160;Like the pre-conversion Criswell, Jeffress wraps his capitulation to secular conservatism in heroic language, but no one is fooled. &#160;Like his mentor, Jeffress parrots the prejudices of the people in the pews. &#160;He wouldn’t survive a single hour if he didn’t.</p>
<p>Jesus went to the cross because he refused to deny the radically inclusive ideals he preached; Jeffress maintains the fawning adoration of his constituency by denying everything his Master stood for. &#160;He inherited one of the largest churches in the nation and needs to build his membership base. Therefore, everything Jesus said about the poor, the prisoner, the oppressed or the children in our midst must be divorced from American immigration policy.</p>
<p>Ayn Rand, the high priestess of American conservatism, consciously rejected the compassion of Jesus in virtually every particular. &#160;The single exception is telling. &#160;One of her students shares this vignette:</p>
<p>Someone asked her for her views on immigration, if she thought it was a good thing. And she got indignant immediately at the very idea that anyone might be opposed to immigration, that a country might not let immigrants in. One of the things she said in her answer was, “Where would I be today if America closed its doors to immigrants?”</p>
<p>Ayn Rand was offended by the very thought of closing the American border because she had stood on the hurting side of the wall. &#160;Would a trip to a detention center have the same affect on Robert Jeffress?</p>
<p>Marla Bearden,&#160;disaster response specialist with the Baptist General Convention of Texas,&#160; <a href="" type="internal">has seen hearts and minds at the Mexican border</a>.</p>
<p>“I spoke with a couple of volunteers who worked with the children, who went with the idea that we just need to turn them back. &#160;Once they saw the conditions the children were in, it changed their hearts and it changed them.”</p>
<p>Some contend that Criswell’s about-face on segregation was motivated by his desire to serve as president of the Southern Baptist Convention. &#160;Outspoken bigotry was no longer acceptable in the SBC and the Texas preacher was forced to adapt. &#160;If that’s true, I long for the day when a sea change within First Baptist Church, Dallas forces a hard-hearted pastor into the waiting arms of Jesus.</p>
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rev160robert jeffress160 thinks jesus would build fence us border desperate children violenceridden countries would discouraged from160heading north yes jesus loved children jeffress admits also respected law said render unto caesar things caesars words christians shouldnt trouble immigration policy thats caesars concern jeffress pastor first baptist church dallas suggested barack obama preparing world coming antichrist caesar reference probably doesnt mean leave immigration policy hands presiding president 160he means instead everything jesus said welcoming children warnings pronounced harden hearts pain young ones irrelevant american immigration policy sure christians must kind children encounter within suburban bubble boys girls honduras simply since nothing done unaccompanied migrant children doorstep compassionate course build border wall thick tall poor little blighters choice return violence squalor drove arms america young girl seven eight carrying twoyear old sister back spawned crisis conscience among american christians whole responded admirably 160this unfortunate even awful situation everyone160 said david hardage 160executive director baptist general convention texas much happened happening control control response human need try hands feet jesus need hardage sees jesus standing side desperate children assumption shared texas baptists terry henderson state disaster relief director texas baptist men compressed 160the issue simple question160if jesus standing us would tell us sounds kind basic thats deal thats supposed rhetorical question robert jeffress doesnt provide expected answer 160he thinks jesus would slam door 160call tough love disagreement jeffress mainstream texas baptists cuts heart christian faith 160the pastor first baptist dallas grew preaching wa criswell 160in 1956 jeffress babe arms criswell stood gathering southern baptist evangelists south carolina and160 issued call arms describing sort fiery ordeals must face criswell segued heated attack forces desegregation expressed astonishment cowardice ministers whose forebears sic predecessors martyrs burned stake refuse speak thing integration true ministers argued must passionately resist government mandated desegregation denial believe like childhood pastor mentor rev jeffress doubts southern baptist pastors win culture war160 unless man lot christian leaders see jesus little wimpy guy walked around plucking daisies eating birdseed saying nice things never anything controversial fact jesus confront culture truth ended crucified 160wimpy pastors produce wimpy christians losing culture war 160i believe time pastors say160you know dont care controversy dont care whether im going lose church members dont care building big church im going stand truth regardless happens wally amos criswell lived regret defense jim crow segregation 160 never blind confessed decade later 160is current pastor first baptist church dallas headed confession similar moment time soon im afraid 160like preconversion criswell jeffress wraps capitulation secular conservatism heroic language one fooled 160like mentor jeffress parrots prejudices people pews 160he wouldnt survive single hour didnt jesus went cross refused deny radically inclusive ideals preached jeffress maintains fawning adoration constituency denying everything master stood 160he inherited one largest churches nation needs build membership base therefore everything jesus said poor prisoner oppressed children midst must divorced american immigration policy ayn rand high priestess american conservatism consciously rejected compassion jesus virtually every particular 160the single exception telling 160one students shares vignette someone asked views immigration thought good thing got indignant immediately idea anyone might opposed immigration country might let immigrants one things said answer would today america closed doors immigrants ayn rand offended thought closing american border stood hurting side wall 160would trip detention center affect robert jeffress marla bearden160disaster response specialist baptist general convention texas160 seen hearts minds mexican border spoke couple volunteers worked children went idea need turn back 160once saw conditions children changed hearts changed contend criswells aboutface segregation motivated desire serve president southern baptist convention 160outspoken bigotry longer acceptable sbc texas preacher forced adapt 160if thats true long day sea change within first baptist church dallas forces hardhearted pastor waiting arms jesus
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<p><a type="external" href="" /> <a href="#else" type="external">Elsewhere</a></p>
<p>| <a href="#short" type="external">In Short</a> | <a href="#math" type="external">Capital Dispatch</a></p>
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<p>ELSEWHERE <a type="external" href="" /></p>
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<p>Los Angeles: Takeover, pilots</p>
<p>Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is moving ahead with plans to take substantial control of the school system, despite a judge’s ruling that struck down the law as unconstitutional because it takes too much authority from the School Board, according to the Los Angeles Times. The mayor has filed an appeal and is also raising funds for the upcoming School Board race, in which he plans to oust members who oppose his takeover. Meanwhile, the district, the local teachers union and community groups are planning to open up to 10 small schools modeled after Boston’s pilot schools program, according to Education Week. The schools would have more freedom in hiring, spending, curriculum and scheduling. Officials hope to have some of the small, college-prep high schools open for the 2007- 2008 school year.</p>
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<p>Washington, D.C.: Takeover plan</p>
<p>Mayor Adrian Fenty has won support from a majority of City Council members for his plan to take over control of the school system, according to the Washington Post. Fenty’s proposal would require the superintendent to report to the mayor and end the board’s control over management, program and budget decisions. The board would continue to oversee operations such as standardized testing and teacher certification. Congress, which currently has a hand in overseeing the school system, would also have to approve the plan.</p>
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<p>Massachusetts: Pilot schools</p>
<p>To avoid a state takeover, State Board of Education Chairman Christopher Anderson wants to turn four failing schools into “pilot schools,” the Boston Globe reports. Three of the four schools would be the first pilot schools outside Boston. All four would be the first converted to pilots as an improvement measure. (Boston originated the concept as an alternative to charters.) Pilot schools are freed from union contracts and other district requirements and have more control over curriculum, budgets and general operations. The schools could still be subject to a state takeover if they fail to improve.</p>
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<p>Baltimore: New charters</p>
<p>Six new charters, including three that are being converted from district-run schools, have won approval from the School Board, according to the Baltimore Sun. The new schools include an all-boys academy with an extended day. Seven other applications were rejected, including a school that would focus on serving foster children. The three converted charters will use the highly scripted, direct-instruction teaching method. The school board is appealing a state court ruling that requires the school system to provide the same funding for charters as that provided to regular public schools. The city now spends about $11,000 per child but provides only $5,859 per student to charters and the rest in services (such as food service). Most charter operators say they would prefer to have the $11,000. Baltimore currently has 17 of the state’s 24 charters.</p>
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<p>St. Louis: State oversight</p>
<p>A panel led by a former university president and a prominent civil rights lawyer is recommending that the state assume oversight of the city’s failing schools for at least six years, according to the Associated Press. The district has had six superintendents since 2003. The proposal calls for a three-member committee to run the district and decide whether to hire a superintendent to oversee daily operations. The committee would handle budgeting, curriculum and other functions under the supervision of the state board. Mayor Francis Slay favors the plan.</p>
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<p>IN SHORT <a type="external" href="" /></p>
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<p>“If you don’t feed the teachers, they eat the students.”</p>
<p>Barton Elementary Principal Terrence Carter in an interview with Catalyst, explaining why principals should provide teachers with frequent professional development. Barton teachers meet for two hours of training each week.</p>
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<p>Illinois education officials hope to apply next year to participate in a federal pilot project that allows districts to more accurately measure the performance of public school students.</p>
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<p>Ongoing glitches with test scores and delays in creating a statewide database of student information are holding up efforts for the state to convert to the “growth model,” also known as “value-added,” which proponents argue is a fairer way to judge how well schools and districts are educating students. The glitches and delays kept the state from applying for this year’s pilot.</p>
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<p>Under the mandates of the No Child Left Behind Law, Illinois and most other states currently report a snapshot of where student test scores stand once a year. But that method does not shed light on how much progress individual students are making year to year, a critical measure to assess achievement, especially among students who are far behind.</p>
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<p>The U.S. Department of Education has approved growth model pilots in Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee. Congress is expected to consider including the use of growth models when it takes up reauthorization of No Child Left Behind this year.</p>
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<p>Last month, a task force of educators, top policymakers and testing experts issued a report that, among other recommendations, urged the state to develop a growth model and find ways to use the data to support school improvement.</p>
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<p>Illinois may be ready to join the pilot project next school year, says Becky Watts, chief of staff for the Illinois State Board of Education. “It’s not outside the realm of possibility, if everything is in place,” she says.</p>
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<p>One requirement is that Chicago Public Schools connect its new student information system, which has experienced technical glitches, with the statewide student database. Illinois missed the Nov. 1 deadline to apply for this year’s pilot, in part because 35 schools districts, including Chicago, had not connected their student information systems with the state database.</p>
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<p>By mid-January, Chicago was the only district that still had not done so. The district is still trying to resolve technical problems, says Robert Runcie, chief information officer for CPS.</p>
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<p>“We’ll be done ironing the kinks out of the process in the next couple of months, before the end of the school year at the latest,” Runcie says.</p>
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<p>The growth model pilot requires states to have a database that can track the whereabouts of individual students, Watts explains. The database will work in tandem with the state’s test score database, tracking students and their scores from year to year, even if they leave a school or district.</p>
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<p>Test scores for 2006 were also a problem. Watts says final results are not expected to be delivered to schools until February, more than four months overdue. Results for 2007 tests are expected to be completed on time, say state education officials. The next round of state testing begins in March.</p>
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<p>Testing contractor Harcourt Assessment Inc. has been blamed for delivering some tests late and for making mistakes in grading the Prairie State Achievement Exam given to high school juniors. State officials have since retained a new contractor, Pearson Educational Measurement, to take over most of Harcourt’s duties.</p>
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elsewhere short capital dispatch elsewhere los angeles takeover pilots mayor antonio villaraigosa moving ahead plans take substantial control school system despite judges ruling struck law unconstitutional takes much authority school board according los angeles times mayor filed appeal also raising funds upcoming school board race plans oust members oppose takeover meanwhile district local teachers union community groups planning open 10 small schools modeled bostons pilot schools program according education week schools would freedom hiring spending curriculum scheduling officials hope small collegeprep high schools open 2007 2008 school year washington dc takeover plan mayor adrian fenty support majority city council members plan take control school system according washington post fentys proposal would require superintendent report mayor end boards control management program budget decisions board would continue oversee operations standardized testing teacher certification congress currently hand overseeing school system would also approve plan massachusetts pilot schools avoid state takeover state board education chairman christopher anderson wants turn four failing schools pilot schools boston globe reports three four schools would first pilot schools outside boston four would first converted pilots improvement measure boston originated concept alternative charters pilot schools freed union contracts district requirements control curriculum budgets general operations schools could still subject state takeover fail improve baltimore new charters six new charters including three converted districtrun schools approval school board according baltimore sun new schools include allboys academy extended day seven applications rejected including school would focus serving foster children three converted charters use highly scripted directinstruction teaching method school board appealing state court ruling requires school system provide funding charters provided regular public schools city spends 11000 per child provides 5859 per student charters rest services food service charter operators say would prefer 11000 baltimore currently 17 states 24 charters st louis state oversight panel led former university president prominent civil rights lawyer recommending state assume oversight citys failing schools least six years according associated press district six superintendents since 2003 proposal calls threemember committee run district decide whether hire superintendent oversee daily operations committee would handle budgeting curriculum functions supervision state board mayor francis slay favors plan back top short dont feed teachers eat students barton elementary principal terrence carter interview catalyst explaining principals provide teachers frequent professional development barton teachers meet two hours training week back top capital dispatch illinois education officials hope apply next year participate federal pilot project allows districts accurately measure performance public school students ongoing glitches test scores delays creating statewide database student information holding efforts state convert growth model also known valueadded proponents argue fairer way judge well schools districts educating students glitches delays kept state applying years pilot mandates child left behind law illinois states currently report snapshot student test scores stand year method shed light much progress individual students making year year critical measure assess achievement especially among students far behind us department education approved growth model pilots arkansas delaware florida north carolina tennessee congress expected consider including use growth models takes reauthorization child left behind year last month task force educators top policymakers testing experts issued report among recommendations urged state develop growth model find ways use data support school improvement illinois may ready join pilot project next school year says becky watts chief staff illinois state board education outside realm possibility everything place says one requirement chicago public schools connect new student information system experienced technical glitches statewide student database illinois missed nov 1 deadline apply years pilot part 35 schools districts including chicago connected student information systems state database midjanuary chicago district still done district still trying resolve technical problems says robert runcie chief information officer cps well done ironing kinks process next couple months end school year latest runcie says growth model pilot requires states database track whereabouts individual students watts explains database work tandem states test score database tracking students scores year year even leave school district test scores 2006 also problem watts says final results expected delivered schools february four months overdue results 2007 tests expected completed time say state education officials next round state testing begins march testing contractor harcourt assessment inc blamed delivering tests late making mistakes grading prairie state achievement exam given high school juniors state officials since retained new contractor pearson educational measurement take harcourts duties back top
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<p>Fourteen thousand feet up in Peru's Cordillera Blanca, glaciologist Benjamin Morales stands in a windswept dirt parking lot and looks across a rock-strewn slope. In the 1980's and 90's, Morales says, thousands of people came here to watch international ski tournaments. Back then, he says "all this was ice."</p>
<p>The skiers raced down the glistening white Pastoruri glacier, whose broad white ramp unfurled from 2,000 feet above nearly all the way to this dusty lot. Since then, Morales has watched the glacier steadily melt away. Today, its closest edge is about a mile from the parking lot.</p>
<p>"It's been regressing year after year," Morales says, "and this has caused the most important adventure tourism site in Peru to be all but closed."</p>
<p>Morales knows that the Pastoruri glacier is hardly unique. Glaciers around the world are falling victim to global warming. Here in Peru, Morales estimates the Andes have already lost at least 25 percent of their ice.</p>
<p>And what's at stake here is more than just a few ski slopes. Peru is largely a desert country and its thirst is relieved largely by glacier-fed streams. So glaciers here are a vital natural resource. That's why a few years ago, Morales decided he had to do more than simply watch the ice melt.</p>
<p>"We want to find ways to stop this loss of good water," he says as he tromps over the Pastoruri glacier in heavy mountaineer's boots and a powder blue parka. "We want to start taking action to keep that from happening."</p>
<p>Morales thought long and hard about how he could stop the local effects of a global problem. Then one day, it struck him: sawdust.</p>
<p>He'd noticed how sawdust is traditionally used in his hometown to protect ice brought down from the mountains from melting. And he thought, if sawdust can insulate a block of ice, maybe it could insulate a whole glacier.</p>
<p>So he bought 150 big sacks of it from a sawmill, hired a crew to cart it onto the tongue of the glacier, and had them cover a backyard-sized plot in about six inches of sawdust.</p>
<p>Today, ten months later, the impact of the experiment is stunning. The entire ice edge melted and sank in the summer thaw–everywhere except the sawdust-insulated plot, which remained stubbornly frozen. It looks like a shaggy mastodon towering above Morales' head.</p>
<p>"So we have proven that it's possible to prevent glaciers from melting," he says.</p>
<p>Inventors call it "proof of concept." And having established that sawdust will insulate glaciers, Morales is now looking at other materials, like locally harvested straw.</p>
<p>And he's not alone in his efforts to save Peru's glaciers.</p>
<p>Several hundred miles south, near the city of Ayacucho, herder Salomon Pichca is part of an effort to bring back a glacier that's already gone away.</p>
<p>Pichca is a small man with deep set eyes who used to graze livestock in marshes nearby, until the local glacier disappeared and the marshes dried up. Today, he's part of a work crew a couple of miles above the nearest road that's slathering homemade white paint onto black boulders near a summit called Chalón Sombrero.</p>
<p>It's backbreaking work. Pichca says the crew hauls lime up from the road on lamas, unloads it, then turns around and heads back for water. Then they mix the lime, water and other ingredients, lug buckets of the paint up the rugged slope, and slosh it onto the sun-warmed rocks.</p>
<p>Eduardo Gold, an entrepreneur from Lima who's the project's architect, says the idea for the project came from "a really simple fact, which is that the color white reflects light and prevents the transformation of that light into infrared radiation."</p>
<p>Simply put, white rocks don't get as warm as black ones.</p>
<p>Gold hopes an entire white slope will dramatically cool off high mountain breezes, and that summits like Chalón Sombrero could once again be cold enough to retain snow and ice year-round, beginning the process of rebuilding a glacier.</p>
<p>So far, Gold's men have whitewashed an area the size of a supermarket parking lot, and he says the paint has already brought back wisps of ice to the mountain. He hopes to prove his idea's value once the crew has covered half a square mile of rock. And if it works here, he wants to do the same on other mountains.</p>
<p>The World Bank has named Gold's experiment one of "100 Ideas to Save the Planet." The project has also been embraced by regional officials. But some remain skeptical.</p>
<p>"From a theoretical point of view of physics, one can understand," says former park service chief Luis Alfaro. "But the question is, at what price?"</p>
<p>Alfaro worries, among other things, about the environmental impact of the paint when it washes off the rocks.</p>
<p>Others argue that tiny projects like painting mountaintops or insulating glaciers can never save the hundreds of square mile of mountain ice that still remain in Peru. Instead, they say, Peru must build new reservoirs to capture and store the water once held in glaciers.</p>
<p>But Peru can hardly afford such huge investments. And with its life-giving water supply at risk, many here, like former Deputy Environment Minister Vanessa Vereau, feel the country can't afford to dismiss any idea for saving its glaciers.</p>
<p>Vereau says no one knows whether such experiments will work. "But since we need to experiment and conserve water for the future, I think we should try. I think we should try."</p>
<p>This story was reported with help from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and the Whole Systems Foundation.</p>
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fourteen thousand feet perus cordillera blanca glaciologist benjamin morales stands windswept dirt parking lot looks across rockstrewn slope 1980s 90s morales says thousands people came watch international ski tournaments back says ice skiers raced glistening white pastoruri glacier whose broad white ramp unfurled 2000 feet nearly way dusty lot since morales watched glacier steadily melt away today closest edge mile parking lot regressing year year morales says caused important adventure tourism site peru closed morales knows pastoruri glacier hardly unique glaciers around world falling victim global warming peru morales estimates andes already lost least 25 percent ice whats stake ski slopes peru largely desert country thirst relieved largely glacierfed streams glaciers vital natural resource thats years ago morales decided simply watch ice melt want find ways stop loss good water says tromps pastoruri glacier heavy mountaineers boots powder blue parka want start taking action keep happening morales thought long hard could stop local effects global problem one day struck sawdust hed noticed sawdust traditionally used hometown protect ice brought mountains melting thought sawdust insulate block ice maybe could insulate whole glacier bought 150 big sacks sawmill hired crew cart onto tongue glacier cover backyardsized plot six inches sawdust today ten months later impact experiment stunning entire ice edge melted sank summer thaweverywhere except sawdustinsulated plot remained stubbornly frozen looks like shaggy mastodon towering morales head proven possible prevent glaciers melting says inventors call proof concept established sawdust insulate glaciers morales looking materials like locally harvested straw hes alone efforts save perus glaciers several hundred miles south near city ayacucho herder salomon pichca part effort bring back glacier thats already gone away pichca small man deep set eyes used graze livestock marshes nearby local glacier disappeared marshes dried today hes part work crew couple miles nearest road thats slathering homemade white paint onto black boulders near summit called chalón sombrero backbreaking work pichca says crew hauls lime road lamas unloads turns around heads back water mix lime water ingredients lug buckets paint rugged slope slosh onto sunwarmed rocks eduardo gold entrepreneur lima whos projects architect says idea project came really simple fact color white reflects light prevents transformation light infrared radiation simply put white rocks dont get warm black ones gold hopes entire white slope dramatically cool high mountain breezes summits like chalón sombrero could cold enough retain snow ice yearround beginning process rebuilding glacier far golds men whitewashed area size supermarket parking lot says paint already brought back wisps ice mountain hopes prove ideas value crew covered half square mile rock works wants mountains world bank named golds experiment one 100 ideas save planet project also embraced regional officials remain skeptical theoretical point view physics one understand says former park service chief luis alfaro question price alfaro worries among things environmental impact paint washes rocks others argue tiny projects like painting mountaintops insulating glaciers never save hundreds square mile mountain ice still remain peru instead say peru must build new reservoirs capture store water held glaciers peru hardly afford huge investments lifegiving water supply risk many like former deputy environment minister vanessa vereau feel country cant afford dismiss idea saving glaciers vereau says one knows whether experiments work since need experiment conserve water future think try think try story reported help pulitzer center crisis reporting whole systems foundation
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<p>The message of Thomas Helwys — a founder of the Baptist denomination and one of the first Englishmen to state explicitly that people of any religion should be free to exercise their faith without government interference —&#160;is as relevant today as it was in 1616, according to speakers at a recent <a href="http://www.clarborough-welham.org.uk/BCH_Helwys_Event_Briefing__Jan_2016_.pdf" type="external">event</a> commemorating the 400th anniversary of his death.</p>
<p>“Thomas Helwys is rightly regarded as the pioneer Baptist leader,” Tony Peck, general secretary of the European Baptist Federation, said in a keynote <a href="https://freedomdeclared.org/media/Thomas-Helwys-Commemoration-Day.pdf" type="external">address</a> at a recent&#160;gathering at The Well, also known as Retford Baptist Church, near the Nottinghamshire village where Helwys probably was born. The church was organized around 1691.</p>
<p>Peck said a core value of the approximately 100 million Baptists living today around the world remains “a Baptist contribution to building a peaceful and tolerant society.”</p>
<p>Tony Peck</p>
<p>“That is a commitment to religious freedom for all, not just for ourselves,” Peck said. “We owe that to the legacy of Thomas Helwys, even if we have not always lived up to the full extent of his vision.”</p>
<p>Born into a family of some reputation —&#160;his uncle served as sheriff of London and his cousin was knighted by the king —&#160;Helwys became associated with the early Puritans, a group of dissenters from the Church of England. He&#160;developed a close bond with dissenter John Smyth, and he and his wife became members of Smyth’s separatist congregation in Gainsborough.</p>
<p>Church authorities cracked down on the dissenters, and about 40 members from Gainsborough and another congregation fled to safety in Amsterdam in the more tolerant Dutch Republic. While there Smyth became convinced that baptism should be for Christian believers instead of infants, marking the birth of the earliest church labeled “Baptist” in 1609.</p>
<p>Smyth later embraced&#160;Mennonite doctrines, while Helwys and others began working on the <a href="http://evangelicalarminians.org/helwys-declaration-of-faith-the-first-baptist-confession/" type="external">earliest</a> Baptist confession of faith. Helwys returned&#160;to England to start a&#160;Baptist church, an act that was still illegal, and it became&#160;the first congregation of the Baptist denomination in England. Before he left Helwys completed <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=_fGP4RgBUQYC" type="external">A Short Declaration of the Mistery of Iniquity</a>, the first book in English making the case for universal religious freedom for all faiths&#160;and for those with no faith at all.</p>
<p>“The King is a mortal man and not God,” Helwys wrote. “Therefore he has no power over the immortal souls of his subjects, to make laws and ordinances for them and set spiritual lords [bishops] over them. If the king has authority to make spiritual Lord and laws, then he is an immortal god and not a mortal man.”</p>
<p>It is unclear if King James I, who commissioned the Authorized Version of the Bible published in 1611, read Helwys’ words, but somebody did, landing the Baptist in Newgate Prison, where he died probably around 1615 or 1616.</p>
<p>Peck said Helwys’ unconventional views probably resulted from his interaction in Amsterdam with Dutch Anabaptists, the radicals of the Reformation whose teaching embraced universal religious freedom. “Nobody was putting forward such a bold vision at that time in England,” Peck said.</p>
<p><a href="http://1648o73kablq2rveyn64glm1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/thomas-helwys-dedication-to-king-james.jpg" type="external" />Peck said it took about three decades for Helwys’ ideas to find a more ready audience in England. From there Helwys’ ideas directly influenced Roger Williams, who founded an American colony based on religious freedom in Providence, R.I., establishing ideas of religious liberty later enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.</p>
<p>Peck said the religious and political strife Helwys experienced during his lifetime caused him to believe his generation was living in the last times. In many ways his book “calls out a pure church to be ready for the final apocalypse,” Peck said. Attacking every other church in England, Peck said by today’s standards “Thomas Helwys does not come across as a very tolerant man.”</p>
<p>In the middle of his polemic, however, Peck said there emerges a “pure diamond,” the book’s most famous passage: “For our Lord the King is but an earthly king, and he has no authority as a king in earthly causes. And if the king’s people be obedient and true subjects, obeying all human laws, our lord the king can require no more. For men’s religion to God is between God and themselves. The king shall not answer for it. Neither may the King judge between God and men. Let them be heretics, Jews or whatsoever, it appertains not to the earthly power to punish them in the least measure.”</p>
<p>Though it didn’t go over well at the time, Peck said it is important to note that Helwys went out of his way to stress loyalty to the king in “everything except the individual conscience regarding religion and spiritual matters,” at one point urging non-conformists like himself to be prepared to fight in battle for the king if the nation is threatened.</p>
<p>Peck said Helwys’ argument for religious freedom was not the later idea of inalienable rights that would give rise to the French and American revolutions.</p>
<p>“Helwys’ conviction was rooted in his Christian faith; that if Jesus Christ is King and Lord, then he is especially Lord of the spirit and the conscience and there can be no other kings, no other lords that get in the way of the free response of faith on the part of the individual,” Peck said. “In the realm of the spirit, the earthly King cannot play God, though he is to be obeyed in everything else.”</p>
<p>Whether or not he knew it at the time, Peck said, Helwys “was articulating a bold vision of a plural society that values and protects its minorities at a time when everyone was religious and atheism was almost unheard of.”</p>
<p>“It was a blueprint for a very different kind of society a long way from the reality of its time,” Peck said. It’s a message, Peck said, that especially resonates today.</p>
<p>“So the legacy of Thomas Helwys, richly nurtured in the fertile spiritual soil here on the borders of Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, lives on in a very different English society but one that still faces urgent questions about how those with different faith convictions and none are to live together in peace,” Peck said. “May his bold vision continue to inspire us, too.”</p>
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message thomas helwys founder baptist denomination one first englishmen state explicitly people religion free exercise faith without government interference 160is relevant today 1616 according speakers recent event commemorating 400th anniversary death thomas helwys rightly regarded pioneer baptist leader tony peck general secretary european baptist federation said keynote address recent160gathering well also known retford baptist church near nottinghamshire village helwys probably born church organized around 1691 peck said core value approximately 100 million baptists living today around world remains baptist contribution building peaceful tolerant society tony peck commitment religious freedom peck said owe legacy thomas helwys even always lived full extent vision born family reputation 160his uncle served sheriff london cousin knighted king 160helwys became associated early puritans group dissenters church england he160developed close bond dissenter john smyth wife became members smyths separatist congregation gainsborough church authorities cracked dissenters 40 members gainsborough another congregation fled safety amsterdam tolerant dutch republic smyth became convinced baptism christian believers instead infants marking birth earliest church labeled baptist 1609 smyth later embraced160mennonite doctrines helwys others began working earliest baptist confession faith helwys returned160to england start a160baptist church act still illegal became160the first congregation baptist denomination england left helwys completed short declaration mistery iniquity first book english making case universal religious freedom faiths160and faith king mortal man god helwys wrote therefore power immortal souls subjects make laws ordinances set spiritual lords bishops king authority make spiritual lord laws immortal god mortal man unclear king james commissioned authorized version bible published 1611 read helwys words somebody landing baptist newgate prison died probably around 1615 1616 peck said helwys unconventional views probably resulted interaction amsterdam dutch anabaptists radicals reformation whose teaching embraced universal religious freedom nobody putting forward bold vision time england peck said peck said took three decades helwys ideas find ready audience england helwys ideas directly influenced roger williams founded american colony based religious freedom providence ri establishing ideas religious liberty later enshrined us constitution peck said religious political strife helwys experienced lifetime caused believe generation living last times many ways book calls pure church ready final apocalypse peck said attacking every church england peck said todays standards thomas helwys come across tolerant man middle polemic however peck said emerges pure diamond books famous passage lord king earthly king authority king earthly causes kings people obedient true subjects obeying human laws lord king require mens religion god god king shall answer neither may king judge god men let heretics jews whatsoever appertains earthly power punish least measure though didnt go well time peck said important note helwys went way stress loyalty king everything except individual conscience regarding religion spiritual matters one point urging nonconformists like prepared fight battle king nation threatened peck said helwys argument religious freedom later idea inalienable rights would give rise french american revolutions helwys conviction rooted christian faith jesus christ king lord especially lord spirit conscience kings lords get way free response faith part individual peck said realm spirit earthly king play god though obeyed everything else whether knew time peck said helwys articulating bold vision plural society values protects minorities time everyone religious atheism almost unheard blueprint different kind society long way reality time peck said message peck said especially resonates today legacy thomas helwys richly nurtured fertile spiritual soil borders nottinghamshire lincolnshire lives different english society one still faces urgent questions different faith convictions none live together peace peck said may bold vision continue inspire us
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<p>In 2014, one can barely read the news without coming across a story concerning lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI) persons. Invariably these stories relate to violence, discrimination or other human rights violations inflicted on individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.</p>
<p>Occasionally, a good news story creeps in, like the recent legalising of marriage for same-sex couples in the United Kingdom, France and New Zealand. But more often than not, the story is about gay bashing in Russia, draconian homophobic laws being enacted in various African countries, or the Indian Supreme Court re-criminalising consensual sexual conduct between men, after the Delhi High Court struck down the relevant provision of the criminal code four years ago.</p>
<p>With <a href="http://antigaylaws.wordpress.com" type="external">81 states still criminalising homosexuality</a>, the plight of LGBTI persons in many parts of the world is dire.</p>
<p>In light of an apparent increase in the intensity and frequency of LGBTI rights violations, it is appropriate to ask: What is the United Nations doing in response? And what more could it be doing?</p>
<p>There are three UN bodies that are particularly useful to consider, namely the Human Rights Committee, the Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.</p>
<p>Human Rights Committee</p>
<p>As the body responsible for monitoring state parties’ compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Human Rights Committee has an important role to play in promoting and protecting the rights of LGBTI persons.</p>
<p>There are three ways in which it can do this, namely, in its Concluding Observations, in its General Comments and in its Views on individual communications. The degree to which it has succeeded in raising LGBTI rights through these different avenues is variable.</p>
<p>The Human Rights Committee’s approach to raising violations of the rights of LGBTI persons in its Concluding Observations has been patchy. Although it has improved in recent times, there have still been instances where the Human Rights Committee has failed to explicitly address the fact that a state continues to criminalise homosexuality in clear breach of the ICCPR.</p>
<p>In 2014, the Committee will review 18 states. Of those, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Sudan, Burundi and Sri Lanka still criminalise homosexuality.</p>
<p>Of course, many of the states where homosexual conduct is legal also have significant LGBTI rights violations, because, for example, there is no anti-discrimination legislation that protects sexual minorities.</p>
<p>One only has to look at recent events in Russia, where homosexuality was legalised in 1993, to know that decriminalisation is only the start of the journey towards dignity and equality for LGBTI persons, not the end.</p>
<p>The Human Rights Committee should therefore include recommendations not only about decriminalising homosexuality in its Concluding Observations for these 18 states, but also other reform measures necessary to ensure that LGBTI persons can be free and equal.</p>
<p>The Human Rights Committee has a woeful record when it comes to including LGBTI persons in its General Comments. To date the Committee has published 34 General Comments and not one of them has mentioned LGBTI rights. This is in stark contrast to other treaty committees, which have all made explicit reference to sexual minorities in at least one General Comment.</p>
<p>There may be signs that the Human Rights Committee is ready to catch up. General Comment 35 on Article 9 (liberty and security of person) is currently being drafted and does include a reference to sexual minorities. Let’s hope this language is retained in the final version.</p>
<p>The Human Rights Committee has considered five communications from LGBTI persons and in four of those cases found there had been breaches of the ICCPR. Most recently, it found that Russia’s gay ‘propaganda’ laws are inconsistent with the right to freedom of expression, read in conjunction with the right to freedom from discrimination (Fedotova v Russian Federation, 2012).</p>
<p>Thus, while the Human Rights Committee is making good progress with promoting and protecting the rights of LGBTI persons in its Concluding Observations and Views, there is definite room for improvement in its General Comments.</p>
<p>Human Rights Council</p>
<p>The Human Rights Council is also making a positive contribution to the UN’s efforts to promote and protect the rights of LGBTI persons, most particularly through its landmark resolution on sexual orientation and gender identity in 2011 (SOGI Resolution) and through comments and recommendations made during the Universal Periodic Review Process (UPR).</p>
<p>The SOGI Resolution was the first ever passed by a UN body on LGBTI rights. It is now imperative that the Council build on this success by adopting a follow up resolution further condemning the ongoing discrimination and violence against LGBTI persons, and establishing a mechanism or process to ensure that the Human Rights Council can identify and respond to violations of LGBTI rights in a systematic, coordinated and ongoing manner.</p>
<p>The continuing criminalisation of homosexuality has been raised with a number of states during the UPR and many have accepted recommendations that they repeal these laws, including Mauritius, Nauru and Seychelles. That LGBTI issues are being raised as part of the UPR is pleasing, particularly as 11 of the 47 current members of the Human Rights Council are states where homosexuality is still a crime (Algeria, Botswana, Kenya, Kuwait, Maldives, Morocco, Namibia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone and United Arab Emirates). It is hoped that in 2014, the HRC will consistently raise LGBTI issues within the UPR, whether it be about the criminalisation of homosexuality, the absence of anti-discrimination legislation or violence against sexual minorities.</p>
<p>Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.unfe.org/en" type="external">Free &amp; Equal campaign</a> launched by OHCHR last year is a standout achievement, but by no means does it represent the extent of the Office’s work to promote LGBTI rights. High Commissioner Navi Pillay has been a vocal critic of recent moves to oppress LGBTI people in Africa even further. In relation to new draconian Nigerian anti-gay legislation, she said:</p>
<p>"Rarely have I seen a piece of legislation that in so few paragraphs directly violates so many basic, universal human rights. Rights to privacy and non-discrimination, rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly, rights to freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention: this law undermines all of them."</p>
<p>Another OHCHR achievement is the drafting of the <a href="http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Discrimination/A.HRC.19.41_English.pdf" type="external">first UN report</a> documenting discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. This 2011 report was prepared pursuant to a request by the HRC in the SOGI Resolution.</p>
<p>Finally, in 2012, OHCHR published a very <a href="http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/BornFreeAndEqualLowRes.pdf" type="external">helpful booklet</a> that sets out the core obligations that states have towards LGBTI persons, and describes how various UN mechanisms have applied international human rights law to LGBTI persons.</p>
<p>Fortunately, we can be confident that OHCHR will continue its work to increase respect for the rights of LGBTI persons, because the high commissioner has said as much in her <a href="http://www.ishr.ch/news/top-un-expert-defends-work-sogi-highlights-new-mandate-fight-reprisals" type="external">annual report to the General Assembly</a>.</p>
<p>If the Human Rights Committee, Human Rights Council and OHCHR build on some of the important steps they have taken on LGBTI rights in the recent past, it may prove to be an antidote to the increased levels of violence and persecution we are witnessing being inflicted on LGBTI people in many parts of the world.</p>
<p>Dr Paula Gerber is an Associate Professor at Monash University Law School and Deputy Director of the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law.</p>
<p>This text was first published on the <a href="http://www.ishr.ch/opinion" type="external">International Service for Human Rights opinion page</a>.</p>
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2014 one barely read news without coming across story concerning lesbian gay bisexual transgender intersex lgbti persons invariably stories relate violence discrimination human rights violations inflicted individuals sexual orientation gender identityexpression occasionally good news story creeps like recent legalising marriage samesex couples united kingdom france new zealand often story gay bashing russia draconian homophobic laws enacted various african countries indian supreme court recriminalising consensual sexual conduct men delhi high court struck relevant provision criminal code four years ago 81 states still criminalising homosexuality plight lgbti persons many parts world dire light apparent increase intensity frequency lgbti rights violations appropriate ask united nations response could three un bodies particularly useful consider namely human rights committee human rights council office high commissioner human rights human rights committee body responsible monitoring state parties compliance international covenant civil political rights iccpr human rights committee important role play promoting protecting rights lgbti persons three ways namely concluding observations general comments views individual communications degree succeeded raising lgbti rights different avenues variable human rights committees approach raising violations rights lgbti persons concluding observations patchy although improved recent times still instances human rights committee failed explicitly address fact state continues criminalise homosexuality clear breach iccpr 2014 committee review 18 states sierra leone malawi sudan burundi sri lanka still criminalise homosexuality course many states homosexual conduct legal also significant lgbti rights violations example antidiscrimination legislation protects sexual minorities one look recent events russia homosexuality legalised 1993 know decriminalisation start journey towards dignity equality lgbti persons end human rights committee therefore include recommendations decriminalising homosexuality concluding observations 18 states also reform measures necessary ensure lgbti persons free equal human rights committee woeful record comes including lgbti persons general comments date committee published 34 general comments one mentioned lgbti rights stark contrast treaty committees made explicit reference sexual minorities least one general comment may signs human rights committee ready catch general comment 35 article 9 liberty security person currently drafted include reference sexual minorities lets hope language retained final version human rights committee considered five communications lgbti persons four cases found breaches iccpr recently found russias gay propaganda laws inconsistent right freedom expression read conjunction right freedom discrimination fedotova v russian federation 2012 thus human rights committee making good progress promoting protecting rights lgbti persons concluding observations views definite room improvement general comments human rights council human rights council also making positive contribution uns efforts promote protect rights lgbti persons particularly landmark resolution sexual orientation gender identity 2011 sogi resolution comments recommendations made universal periodic review process upr sogi resolution first ever passed un body lgbti rights imperative council build success adopting follow resolution condemning ongoing discrimination violence lgbti persons establishing mechanism process ensure human rights council identify respond violations lgbti rights systematic coordinated ongoing manner continuing criminalisation homosexuality raised number states upr many accepted recommendations repeal laws including mauritius nauru seychelles lgbti issues raised part upr pleasing particularly 11 47 current members human rights council states homosexuality still crime algeria botswana kenya kuwait maldives morocco namibia pakistan saudi arabia sierra leone united arab emirates hoped 2014 hrc consistently raise lgbti issues within upr whether criminalisation homosexuality absence antidiscrimination legislation violence sexual minorities office high commissioner human rights ohchr free amp equal campaign launched ohchr last year standout achievement means represent extent offices work promote lgbti rights high commissioner navi pillay vocal critic recent moves oppress lgbti people africa even relation new draconian nigerian antigay legislation said rarely seen piece legislation paragraphs directly violates many basic universal human rights rights privacy nondiscrimination rights freedom expression association assembly rights freedom arbitrary arrest detention law undermines another ohchr achievement drafting first un report documenting discriminatory laws practices acts violence individuals based sexual orientation gender identity 2011 report prepared pursuant request hrc sogi resolution finally 2012 ohchr published helpful booklet sets core obligations states towards lgbti persons describes various un mechanisms applied international human rights law lgbti persons fortunately confident ohchr continue work increase respect rights lgbti persons high commissioner said much annual report general assembly human rights committee human rights council ohchr build important steps taken lgbti rights recent past may prove antidote increased levels violence persecution witnessing inflicted lgbti people many parts world dr paula gerber associate professor monash university law school deputy director castan centre human rights law text first published international service human rights opinion page
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<p>Behind the city’s hard sell to be selected as the host city for the 2016 Olympics, Mayor Richard M. Daley is working with business leaders to make sure that Chicago has an ample supply of hospitality workers to take care of tourists.</p>
<p>Hospitality is one of the four shortage areas that are the focus of the city’s effort to revamp workforce development, including career training in Chicago’s public schools. The other areas are nursing, transportation and technology.</p>
<p>The campaign stems from the need to close a statewide deficit of so-called middle-skill workers—those who have a high school diploma and some additional training, but no college degree.</p>
<p>“The question is, ‘Why have we failed to connect [prospective workers] to these jobs?’ ” says Evelyn Diaz, the mayor’s point person on the campaign, called Project LEADS, an acronym for Leading Economic Advancement, Development and Sustainability.</p>
<p>One answer is the lack of solid information about which training programs are successful and where they lead, especially given the range of public entities that provide training, including CPS, City Colleges of Chicago, the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development, the Illinois Department of Labor and the city’s Department of Children and Youth Services.</p>
<p>So a key goal of LEADS is to get a handle on training and outcomes. To that end, the mayor’s office is creating a research unit to gather and analyze data from the city’s various workforce development programs, says Larry Stanton, former chief officer of planning and development for CPS, who is heading the effort as a consultant. The Joyce Foundation provided funding for the venture.</p>
<p>Stanton says all of the entities have agreed to turn over information. He is in negotiations with a local university to conduct the work, which could be up and running by July.</p>
<p>Another problem, Diaz says, is a lack of focus, which leads to a disconnect between the training offered and the jobs that are available. LEADS is prodding workforce development agencies and schools to focus on promoting and training in the four priority fields where they expect available jobs to grow over the next decade.</p>
<p>Through this initiative, the city has been instrumental in helping community colleges and businesses open up seats in apprenticeships and training programs, to get more low-skilled workers ready for these jobs. But Diaz says this is a short-term strategy.</p>
<p>In the long run, schools are expected to play their part. “They provide the pipeline of students,” she says. “If students are not interested in these careers and are not qualified to go into them, then we have positions left open.”</p>
<p>At the moment, the district’s traditional career and technical education programs are not training many students for these careers. In 2007, fewer than 1,000 students completed programs in any one of the four key areas. Meanwhile, there were 325,000 jobs in hospitality, transportation and nursing in March 2008, accounting for a third of all jobs in Chicago, according to the Illinois Department of Labor Statistics. (The department does not provide similar detail for technology jobs.)</p>
<p>Only 10 students in CPS completed majors in transportation logistics, though Chicago is a crossroads for several major highways and rail lines. And only about 300 students completed programs in medical-related fields, despite the shortage of hundreds of nurses.</p>
<p>Diaz and the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development are working with CPS officials to create new career academies focused on these areas. By next year, the first academy, in transportation, is set to open. ( <a href="/news/index.php?item=2543&amp;cat=32&amp;p=2544&amp;c=23&amp;h=Renaissance+workforce" type="external">See related story</a>.)</p>
<p>These highly specialized career academies, however, will only serve about 600 students apiece—too few to reach a critical mass and fill the available jobs. Diaz and CPS officials are still trying to figure out how to train more students.</p>
<p>A September 2008 report, “Illinois’ Forgotten Middle-Skill Jobs,” noted the lack of workers in 30 jobs that offer attractive wages. Among them are nursing and transportation, but other careers, such as carpentry and firefighting, were also noted.</p>
<p>About one in four city high schools offer career and technical education classes in one of the middle-skills career paths noted in the report.</p>
<p>Cheryl Freeman-Smith, director of workforce development for the Chicago Urban League, says young people could get a leg up on careers if CPS connected them with employers and created niche programs.</p>
<p>The Chicago Urban League has taken on the task, she notes. One program, for instance, is tied to British Petroleum’s refinery in Whiting, Ind. Participants train for one year to earn certification as a process technician and can earn $45,000. After two years, they earn an associate’s degree and can earn $65,000. (BP built a $200,000 training lab at Olive-Harvey College.)</p>
<p>“Much of what the participants learn, they could learn in high school and walk out ready to work,” Freeman-Smith says.</p>
<p>Chicago schools are part of a statewide problem. In 2004, 51 percent of the jobs in the state required middle-level skills; but only 43 percent of workers had those skills. This gap between supply and demand is projected to grow even larger over the next decade. Nationally, the gap is only 2 percentage points, according to the report.</p>
<p>Some middle-skills jobs are recession-proof, such as those in health care and transportation. But industries that have lost jobs during the recent downturn will come back, says Andrea Ray, a regional field director for The Workforce Alliance, a national coalition of groups involved in workforce development. Ray is based in Chicago and contributed to the middle-skills report.</p>
<p>Federal economic stimulus legislation is likely to include funding for jobs to rebuild infrastructure and for investment in clean energy, creating so-called green jobs. Over half of jobs in the green economy will be at the middle-skills level, says Ray.</p>
<p>Dan Swinney, executive director of the Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Council, says he would love to see Chicago become a hub for this green technology.</p>
<p>He dreams of seeing old industrial parks in Austin on the West Side being turned into wide stretches of wind turbines, producing energy. But he wonders if Chicago has a workforce that is ready to build and maintain these parks.</p>
<p>“If we could teach young people how to build and work in green technology, we could open up doors,” Swinney says. “We could be a world leader.”</p>
<p>Says Ray: “We are going to need engineers and architects. But there’s also a place for the assemblers. It is like a football team. You can’t just have the quarterback. You have to have some other players to move the football down the field.”</p>
<p>[email protected]</p>
<p>3:25 p.m. Friends and family make their way up to the seventh floor to visit Lopez in her recovery room. They try to cheer her up, but she tells them not to make her laugh because it hurts too much.</p>
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behind citys hard sell selected host city 2016 olympics mayor richard daley working business leaders make sure chicago ample supply hospitality workers take care tourists hospitality one four shortage areas focus citys effort revamp workforce development including career training chicagos public schools areas nursing transportation technology campaign stems need close statewide deficit socalled middleskill workersthose high school diploma additional training college degree question failed connect prospective workers jobs says evelyn diaz mayors point person campaign called project leads acronym leading economic advancement development sustainability one answer lack solid information training programs successful lead especially given range public entities provide training including cps city colleges chicago mayors office workforce development illinois department labor citys department children youth services key goal leads get handle training outcomes end mayors office creating research unit gather analyze data citys various workforce development programs says larry stanton former chief officer planning development cps heading effort consultant joyce foundation provided funding venture stanton says entities agreed turn information negotiations local university conduct work could running july another problem diaz says lack focus leads disconnect training offered jobs available leads prodding workforce development agencies schools focus promoting training four priority fields expect available jobs grow next decade initiative city instrumental helping community colleges businesses open seats apprenticeships training programs get lowskilled workers ready jobs diaz says shortterm strategy long run schools expected play part provide pipeline students says students interested careers qualified go positions left open moment districts traditional career technical education programs training many students careers 2007 fewer 1000 students completed programs one four key areas meanwhile 325000 jobs hospitality transportation nursing march 2008 accounting third jobs chicago according illinois department labor statistics department provide similar detail technology jobs 10 students cps completed majors transportation logistics though chicago crossroads several major highways rail lines 300 students completed programs medicalrelated fields despite shortage hundreds nurses diaz mayors office workforce development working cps officials create new career academies focused areas next year first academy transportation set open see related story highly specialized career academies however serve 600 students apiecetoo reach critical mass fill available jobs diaz cps officials still trying figure train students september 2008 report illinois forgotten middleskill jobs noted lack workers 30 jobs offer attractive wages among nursing transportation careers carpentry firefighting also noted one four city high schools offer career technical education classes one middleskills career paths noted report cheryl freemansmith director workforce development chicago urban league says young people could get leg careers cps connected employers created niche programs chicago urban league taken task notes one program instance tied british petroleums refinery whiting ind participants train one year earn certification process technician earn 45000 two years earn associates degree earn 65000 bp built 200000 training lab oliveharvey college much participants learn could learn high school walk ready work freemansmith says chicago schools part statewide problem 2004 51 percent jobs state required middlelevel skills 43 percent workers skills gap supply demand projected grow even larger next decade nationally gap 2 percentage points according report middleskills jobs recessionproof health care transportation industries lost jobs recent downturn come back says andrea ray regional field director workforce alliance national coalition groups involved workforce development ray based chicago contributed middleskills report federal economic stimulus legislation likely include funding jobs rebuild infrastructure investment clean energy creating socalled green jobs half jobs green economy middleskills level says ray dan swinney executive director chicago manufacturing renaissance council says would love see chicago become hub green technology dreams seeing old industrial parks austin west side turned wide stretches wind turbines producing energy wonders chicago workforce ready build maintain parks could teach young people build work green technology could open doors swinney says could world leader says ray going need engineers architects theres also place assemblers like football team cant quarterback players move football field karpcatalystchicagoorg 325 pm friends family make way seventh floor visit lopez recovery room try cheer tells make laugh hurts much permalink
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<p>With a growing number of murder convictions based on investigations by disgraced Chicago police Detective Reynaldo Guevara being overturned, Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez signaled last month that she would continue to defend Guevara and his convictions.&#160; It doesn’t matter that Guevara refuses to testify out of fear of self-incrimination.</p>
<p>On July 26, less than a week after Guevara victims <a href="" type="internal">Jose Montanez and Armando Serrano were released</a>, the State’s Attorney’s office announced that it would appeal a ruling granting two prisoners a hearing on their motion to suppress their confessions.</p>
<p>Imprisoned since 2000, Arturo Reyes and Gabriel Solache are serving life sentences stemming from a bizarre case in which a couple was murdered and their two young children abducted.&#160; Reyes and Solache were arrested when they brought the children to a police station after learning their identities from a news broadcast.&#160; They were held for two days, one arm handcuffed to a wall.</p>
<p>Their housemate, Adriana Mejia, pled guilty to the crimes (she’s also serving a life sentence) after the victims’ blood was found on her shoes, and under questioning from Guevara she implicated Reyes, who then named Solache as an accomplice.</p>
<p>No physical evidence linked Reyes or Solache to the crime.</p>
<p>Both Reyes and Solache testified at their trial that they confessed only after sustained beatings by Guevara.&#160; Reyes said the detective would slap him every time he didn’t like an answer Reyes gave; Solache said beatings to his head caused him to lose his hearing in one ear.&#160; In a pretrial hearing, Mejia testified that she saw Guevara slap Solache; Guevara denied any physical abuse took place.</p>
<p>In 2003 the two men filed post-conviction petitions which were dismissed by the trial judge, but in 2006 an appeals court reversed that decision, ruling that new evidence of a pattern of abuse by Guevera added credibility to their claims of coerced confessions.</p>
<p>An amended petition filed in 2008 on Solache’s behalf by Northwestern’s <a href="http://www.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/wrongfulconvictions/" type="external">Center on Wrongful Convictions</a> laid out <a href="http://www.newstips.org/2009/06/guevara-case-goes-to-trial-2/" type="external">dozens of cases</a> of misconduct by Guevara that had come to light in the intervening years, including a distinct pattern of manipulating witnesses and coercing confessions to win convictions in murder cases where no physical evidence existed.&#160; The state moved to dismiss the petition, and another round of legal wrangling took place.</p>
<p>Finally in February 2013 an evidentiary hearing began (it stretched over two years) on their petition for post-conviction relief. &#160;The defense presented witnesses and testimony from other cases spelling out 20 instances of Guevara’s misconduct, including the testimony of a retired detective who said he told his supervisor that Guevara had manipulated a photo array.&#160; A murder charge in that case was subsequently dropped.</p>
<p>Guevara was called to the stand but refused to testify, taking the Fifth Amendment dozens of times.&#160; That’s a problem, as <a href="http://www.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/wrongfulconvictions/documents/Reyes-Solache%20Order.pdf" type="external">Circuit Court Judge James M. Obbish noted in his June 29 ruling</a>, since it left every credible allegation against him unrebutted.</p>
<p>“Altogether, these incidents include details implying that Det. Guevara would employ methods to secure a confessional or witness statement by whatever means that he could,” Obbish wrote. “Because there was no evidence presented in direct refutation of claims of abuse, coercion and other misconduct, petitioners’ newly discovered evidence is unrebutted.”</p>
<p>And Obbish noted: “Where a witness asserts the 5th amendment in post-conviction proceedings, the court is not only permitted to draw a negative inference from the refusal to testify, but should do so in circumstances where the petitioner’s evidence goes unrebutted by the state.</p>
<p>“Because petitioners’ evidence was unrebutted by the state and there was no testimony from Det. Guevara regarding the conduct he is alleged to have engaged in, this court draws the negative inference that he refused to answer so as to avoid admitting wrongdoing while under oath. The inference that Det. Guevara possibly engaged in wrongdoing overwhelmingly supports petitioners’ claim that he engaged in abuse and coercion in the incidents submitted as new evidence as well as their own interrogations.”</p>
<p>But Alvarez insists on standing by Guevara.&#160; Here’s the thing: If the appeals court were to uphold Obbish’s ruling and a hearing on the prisoners’ motion were held before she leaves office next year, she’d be forced to concede at that point, simply because Guevara refuses to stand by his own investigations.</p>
<p>To all appearances, this is pure legal gamesmanship, just delay for the sake of delay.&#160; Alvarez would have us take another year or so to get an appeals court hearing and perhaps another year after that before that court rules.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, two men who are quite possibly innocent will spend those years in prison.</p>
<p>“I don’t think quite honestly there’s a valid basis for appeal,” said Karen Daniel of the Center on Wrongful Convictions, who represents Solache. “If Guevara is taking the Fifth, they can’t defend the allegations of coerced confessions and they can’t defend the convictions.”</p>
<p>She added: “This appeal is simply something that’s going to delay justice for X number of months or years. It’s really frustrating.”</p>
<p>And there’s a larger issue, in her view: “This unwillingness on the part of the State’s Attorney’s office to ever make a concession in a case where police misconduct is alleged” is the reason “why we have Guevara and why we could have Burge, because nobody will stand up and say we can’t support this conviction.”</p>
<p>At this point, Reyes and Solache are merely seeking a hearing on their claim that their confessions were coerced.&#160; Their claim is entirely credible.&#160; As Judge Obbish has said, they deserve a hearing – and they deserve it without unnecessary delay.</p>
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growing number murder convictions based investigations disgraced chicago police detective reynaldo guevara overturned cook county states attorney anita alvarez signaled last month would continue defend guevara convictions160 doesnt matter guevara refuses testify fear selfincrimination july 26 less week guevara victims jose montanez armando serrano released states attorneys office announced would appeal ruling granting two prisoners hearing motion suppress confessions imprisoned since 2000 arturo reyes gabriel solache serving life sentences stemming bizarre case couple murdered two young children abducted160 reyes solache arrested brought children police station learning identities news broadcast160 held two days one arm handcuffed wall housemate adriana mejia pled guilty crimes shes also serving life sentence victims blood found shoes questioning guevara implicated reyes named solache accomplice physical evidence linked reyes solache crime reyes solache testified trial confessed sustained beatings guevara160 reyes said detective would slap every time didnt like answer reyes gave solache said beatings head caused lose hearing one ear160 pretrial hearing mejia testified saw guevara slap solache guevara denied physical abuse took place 2003 two men filed postconviction petitions dismissed trial judge 2006 appeals court reversed decision ruling new evidence pattern abuse guevera added credibility claims coerced confessions amended petition filed 2008 solaches behalf northwesterns center wrongful convictions laid dozens cases misconduct guevara come light intervening years including distinct pattern manipulating witnesses coercing confessions win convictions murder cases physical evidence existed160 state moved dismiss petition another round legal wrangling took place finally february 2013 evidentiary hearing began stretched two years petition postconviction relief 160the defense presented witnesses testimony cases spelling 20 instances guevaras misconduct including testimony retired detective said told supervisor guevara manipulated photo array160 murder charge case subsequently dropped guevara called stand refused testify taking fifth amendment dozens times160 thats problem circuit court judge james obbish noted june 29 ruling since left every credible allegation unrebutted altogether incidents include details implying det guevara would employ methods secure confessional witness statement whatever means could obbish wrote evidence presented direct refutation claims abuse coercion misconduct petitioners newly discovered evidence unrebutted obbish noted witness asserts 5th amendment postconviction proceedings court permitted draw negative inference refusal testify circumstances petitioners evidence goes unrebutted state petitioners evidence unrebutted state testimony det guevara regarding conduct alleged engaged court draws negative inference refused answer avoid admitting wrongdoing oath inference det guevara possibly engaged wrongdoing overwhelmingly supports petitioners claim engaged abuse coercion incidents submitted new evidence well interrogations alvarez insists standing guevara160 heres thing appeals court uphold obbishs ruling hearing prisoners motion held leaves office next year shed forced concede point simply guevara refuses stand investigations appearances pure legal gamesmanship delay sake delay160 alvarez would us take another year get appeals court hearing perhaps another year court rules meanwhile two men quite possibly innocent spend years prison dont think quite honestly theres valid basis appeal said karen daniel center wrongful convictions represents solache guevara taking fifth cant defend allegations coerced confessions cant defend convictions added appeal simply something thats going delay justice x number months years really frustrating theres larger issue view unwillingness part states attorneys office ever make concession case police misconduct alleged reason guevara could burge nobody stand say cant support conviction point reyes solache merely seeking hearing claim confessions coerced160 claim entirely credible160 judge obbish said deserve hearing deserve without unnecessary delay
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<p>Judge Yvonne Williams has recused herself ‘from all further proceedings’ related to Christina Lucas’s sentencing. (Image courtesy YouTube)</p>
<p>A D.C. Superior Court judge on Monday took the unusual step of rescinding a decision to lower what critics called an already lenient sentence for a woman convicted of committing an aggravated assault while armed that a jury designated as an anti-gay hate crime.</p>
<p>Judge Yvonne Williams, responding to objections by prosecutors, issued an order vacating an earlier order of July 15 that lowered the sentence for lesbian Christina Lucas, 22, from one year to six months in prison.</p>
<p>Williams also announced in her Aug. 3 order that she has recused herself “from all further proceedings in this case” related to Christina Lucas’s sentencing and ordered that the case be reassigned to another judge for a final decision on the sentence.</p>
<p>She made it clear in her Aug. 3 order that her decision to raise the sentence back to one year in jail was not based on the merits of the case. Instead, she said it was based on procedural grounds raised by prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in a motion filed last week accusing her of acting&#160;improperly by lowering the sentence after the official sentencing hearing on June 29 ended.</p>
<p>At the June 29 hearing, prosecutors asked for a 15-year prison sentence, noting that Christina Lucas slashed the face of a 29-year-old gay male victim after she and her twin brother, Christopher Lucas, along with others knocked him to the ground and repeatedly stomped on him while calling him anti-gay names.</p>
<p>Witnesses at the trial testified that Christina Lucas slashed the victim’s face just below his eye with a sharp object while he was lying on the ground on a Northwest Washington street during the October 2013 attack, leaving him with a permanent facial scar.</p>
<p>The lead prosecutor in the case, Veronica Jennings, argued that the blows to the victim’s body and head were so severe that it was only due to pure luck that he survived the attack.</p>
<p>“As the government properly points out in its motion, the Court incorrectly amended a portion of the defendant’s sentence outside the presence of the parties and without notice to the victim,” Williams states in her order.</p>
<p>“The Court therefore will vacate the Judgment and Commitment Order [the sentence] entered on July 15, 2015, and will enter a Judgment and Commitment Order consistent with the sentence announced before the parties and the victim on June 29, 2015,” Williams states in her Aug. 3 order.</p>
<p>A Superior Court jury on May 8 of this year convicted both Christina and Christopher Lucas of aggravated assault while armed with a hate crime designation following a two-week joint trial. At the June 29 sentencing hearing prosecutors asked for a 15-year sentence for both.</p>
<p>Williams sentenced the two at that hearing to four years in jail and suspended all but one year for each of them. She also sentenced them to five years of supervised probation upon their release, saying they would likely be sent back to jail if they violate the terms of their probation.</p>
<p>The judge startled prosecutors and courtroom observers at the July 15 hearing when she disclosed that she had changed her mind and lowered Christina Lucas’s sentence to six months incarceration on June 29 about 20 minutes after prosecutors, defense attorneys and apparently the court’s stenographer left the courtroom.</p>
<p>She created an uproar among some LGBT activists when she explained at the July 15 hearing that she handed down what some viewed as a lenient sentence in the Lucas case because she questioned whether the incident was a true hate crime and didn’t think the injuries suffered by the victim were serious enough to warrant a 15-year sentence proposed by prosecutors.</p>
<p>Noting that Christina Lucas is an out lesbian, Williams said she questioned whether one gay person can commit a hate crime against another gay person. She said she similarly questions whether a black person who hurls the “N” word while assaulting another black person can be considered to have committed a hate crime.</p>
<p>Citing this rationale, Williams said she did not believe the hate crime aspect of the Lucas case reached the level of seriousness that called for an enhanced prison sentence that the D.C. hate crimes law gives judges the option of using.</p>
<p>Concerning the extent of the victim’s injuries, Williams said, “There were no long-term injuries. There were no broken bones…or disfigurements…he’s obviously not in a wheelchair,” she said of the victim.</p>
<p>In its July 29 motion challenging William’s decision to lower Christina Lucas’s sentence, prosecutor Jennings, an assistant U.S. Attorney, pointed out there was no reference to the sentencing change in the official court transcript of the June 29 hearing.</p>
<p>“[T]he United States respectfully submits that the Court’s re-sentencing of defendant Christina Lucas following the initial sentencing proceeding was improper and in violation of D.C. Superior Court Rule 35 (‘Rule 35’) and the District of Columbia Crime Victim’s Rights Act…and because it was conducted outside the presence of the public,” Jennings states in the government’s motion.</p>
<p>The motion notes that Rule 35 allows judges to change a sentence but requires that they do so in open court in the presence of defendants, prosecutors and defense attorneys. The Crime Victims’ Rights Act requires that victims be present during any sentencing proceeding, Jennings states in the government’s motion.</p>
<p>In her Aug. 3 order rescinding the reduced sentence, Williams says Christina Lucas through her attorney is opposing any action that raises her sentence back to one year. Williams suggested a final decision on the matter would have to be made at another hearing and by another judge.</p>
<p>“Accordingly, it is in this the 3rd day of August, 2015, ORDERED that the Government’s Motion is GRANTED; it further is ORDERED that the Clerk of the Criminal Division shall reassign this case,” Williams declares in her order.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Christina Lucas</a> <a href="" type="internal">Christopher Lucas</a> <a href="" type="internal">hate-crime</a> <a href="" type="internal">Veronica Jennings</a> <a href="" type="internal">Yvonne Williams</a></p>
| false | 3 |
judge yvonne williams recused proceedings related christina lucass sentencing image courtesy youtube dc superior court judge monday took unusual step rescinding decision lower critics called already lenient sentence woman convicted committing aggravated assault armed jury designated antigay hate crime judge yvonne williams responding objections prosecutors issued order vacating earlier order july 15 lowered sentence lesbian christina lucas 22 one year six months prison williams also announced aug 3 order recused proceedings case related christina lucass sentencing ordered case reassigned another judge final decision sentence made clear aug 3 order decision raise sentence back one year jail based merits case instead said based procedural grounds raised prosecutors us attorneys office motion filed last week accusing acting160improperly lowering sentence official sentencing hearing june 29 ended june 29 hearing prosecutors asked 15year prison sentence noting christina lucas slashed face 29yearold gay male victim twin brother christopher lucas along others knocked ground repeatedly stomped calling antigay names witnesses trial testified christina lucas slashed victims face eye sharp object lying ground northwest washington street october 2013 attack leaving permanent facial scar lead prosecutor case veronica jennings argued blows victims body head severe due pure luck survived attack government properly points motion court incorrectly amended portion defendants sentence outside presence parties without notice victim williams states order court therefore vacate judgment commitment order sentence entered july 15 2015 enter judgment commitment order consistent sentence announced parties victim june 29 2015 williams states aug 3 order superior court jury may 8 year convicted christina christopher lucas aggravated assault armed hate crime designation following twoweek joint trial june 29 sentencing hearing prosecutors asked 15year sentence williams sentenced two hearing four years jail suspended one year also sentenced five years supervised probation upon release saying would likely sent back jail violate terms probation judge startled prosecutors courtroom observers july 15 hearing disclosed changed mind lowered christina lucass sentence six months incarceration june 29 20 minutes prosecutors defense attorneys apparently courts stenographer left courtroom created uproar among lgbt activists explained july 15 hearing handed viewed lenient sentence lucas case questioned whether incident true hate crime didnt think injuries suffered victim serious enough warrant 15year sentence proposed prosecutors noting christina lucas lesbian williams said questioned whether one gay person commit hate crime another gay person said similarly questions whether black person hurls n word assaulting another black person considered committed hate crime citing rationale williams said believe hate crime aspect lucas case reached level seriousness called enhanced prison sentence dc hate crimes law gives judges option using concerning extent victims injuries williams said longterm injuries broken bonesor disfigurementshes obviously wheelchair said victim july 29 motion challenging williams decision lower christina lucass sentence prosecutor jennings assistant us attorney pointed reference sentencing change official court transcript june 29 hearing united states respectfully submits courts resentencing defendant christina lucas following initial sentencing proceeding improper violation dc superior court rule 35 rule 35 district columbia crime victims rights actand conducted outside presence public jennings states governments motion motion notes rule 35 allows judges change sentence requires open court presence defendants prosecutors defense attorneys crime victims rights act requires victims present sentencing proceeding jennings states governments motion aug 3 order rescinding reduced sentence williams says christina lucas attorney opposing action raises sentence back one year williams suggested final decision matter would made another hearing another judge accordingly 3rd day august 2015 ordered governments motion granted ordered clerk criminal division shall reassign case williams declares order christina lucas christopher lucas hatecrime veronica jennings yvonne williams
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<p><a href="" type="internal" />DEC. 7, 2010</p>
<p>By TORI RICHARDS</p>
<p>While Gov. Jerry Brown breezed into office on a platform of frugality and openness, California’s government has shown a mandate of secrecy that could have no end in sight.</p>
<p>In fact, First Amendment experts say that the past decade has been an era of wasteful spending with lawmakers and bureaucrats spending small fortunes to ensure that information doesn’t become public.</p>
<p>“The past 10 years it’s been getting worse,” said Terry Francke, founder of <a href="http://www.calaware.org/home.php" type="external">Californians Aware</a>, a government watchdog group. ‘The real problem is not so much new decisions to restrict access as the extreme difficulty of getting legislation that would improve access.”</p>
<p>Despite mounting pressure from journalists and citizens who want accountability in government, California has an abysmal record of openness and refuses to even follow a new mandate imposed by the state court system upon itself to mirror the Public Records Act.</p>
<p>“When it suits them, they will very often say no (to information requests),” Francke said. “The reason why they feel confident in saying no is that the law is perceived as impossible to enforce because you have to go to court.”</p>
<p>Indeed, only one of eight bills introduced by the Legislature last year seeking transparency were signed into law, while other requests for access were battled out in the courts costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.</p>
<p>Transparent Brown?</p>
<p />
<p>Will Brown do anything to change this? It’s tough to say, because his top campaign officials ignored numerous requests for information on his transparency agenda in preparation for this article. During the campaign, his Web site proclaimed: “Jerry Brown’s Record on Open Government.”</p>
<p>The site listed Brown’s accomplishments as secretary of state, governor and attorney general. It said:</p>
<p>The Political Reform Act governs the disclosure of political campaign contributions and spending by candidates and ballot measure committees. It also sets ethics rules for state and local government officials that impose limits on decisions or votes that affect the officials’ financial interests. The act also regulates lobbyists’ financial disclosures and practices related to the Legislature and state agencies.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=gov&amp;group=09001-10000&amp;file=9070-9080" type="external">Legislative Open Records Act</a> made some records available to the public after Jan. 6, 1975 – the year Brown began two terms as governor. Ironically, after he left office legislation was passed restricting access to gubernatorial records without permission of the governor. This law was made retroactive covering Brown’s tenure and expires after 50 years even though the U.S. president has such a shield lasting only a dozen years.</p>
<p>Peter Scheer, executive director of the First Amendment Coalition, doesn’t think Brown is as pro-transparency as he depicts.</p>
<p>“He definitely had some responsibility for creating that law” restricting access, Scheer said. “All the subsequent governors have invoked that law and denied public access to records. <a href="http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/2010/03/former-california-governor-jerry-brown-opens-gubernatorial-records/" type="external">It seems absurd that Nixon’s records are available after 12 years but not Jerry Brown’s</a>.</p>
<p>“There are things in there that would be at least a political embarrassment, so if you can make those things secret, why not?” Scheer said. “If reporters go rooting around in records, they will find things critical of you, not favorable.”</p>
<p>Scheer requested access to Brown’s records, which was granted. He also requested a mandate of opening the records to all, something that was ignored by Brown. Scheer felt he may have been granted access just because of his title and wondered about the average citizen.</p>
<p>However, Brown’s attorney general spokeswoman Christine Gasparac said 11 requests have been granted and no one has been denied. <a href="" type="internal">CalWatchdog.com</a> requested access about a month ago and has not received an answer.</p>
<p>It’s against this backdrop that Brown takes the governor’s mantle from Arnold Schwarzenegger, a leader who has frequently vetoed open public records legislation by a few lawmakers who have managed to squeak by legislation.</p>
<p>“I think the governor-elect will be better on open government issues than our current governor,” said state Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, an open records advocate. “While Schwarzenegger often talked about blowing up the boxes and letting the light in, his actions rarely matched his rhetoric. My experience with Jerry is that he is a straight shooter and I am looking forward to working with him on these transparency issues.”</p>
<p>Uphill battle</p>
<p><a href="http://www.smartvoter.org/2010/11/02/ca/state/vote/yee_l/philosophy.html" type="external">Often voting his conscience and rallying on behalf of public access</a>, Yee has found himself on the opposite side of the status quo regarding government transparency.</p>
<p>He founded the Senate Committee on Public Records and Open Meeting Laws in which he wrote bills that became law closing loopholes in the Public Records Act. This has included the following disclosures: state university governing board records in 2007; government audits and contracts in 2008; and university audits in 2010. College media was also given free speech protection.</p>
<p>His biggest battle was with Schwarzenegger, who vetoed bills introduced by Yee in 2009 and again this year aimed at making university auxiliaries and foundations subject to the Public Records Act.</p>
<p>Schwarzenegger justified this by saying such organizations were private and making donations public would have a chilling effect. This issue was brought to a head in April when Yee filed a public records request with CSU Stanislaus, asking for documents related to an upcoming campus speech by Sarah Palin, who commands six-figure speaking fees.</p>
<p>The university balked, saying it had no such documentation but Yee fired back that he had evidence to the contrary for the fund-raiser hosted by the school’s foundation. “What other documents and correspondence are they hiding?” Yee told The Associated Press.</p>
<p>Neither The AP nor Yee were able to obtain any financial information regarding Palin’s appearance, even though foundation staff are mostly university employees and operate on campus.</p>
<p>Another notable incident happened when Yee tried to buck the system by offering to release his schedule to the AP for a story it was doing on legislators’ schedules. Yee was the sole legislator out of 120 willing to release his schedule to the news agency, but was prohibited from doing so by the Senate Rules Committee.</p>
<p>The committee claimed schedules weren’t part of the Legislative Open Records Act under a clause that excludes drafts, notes, memoranda and personal files. The governor and attorney general make their schedules available to the press.</p>
<p>“As an advocate of government transparency, I respectfully request that my schedule be publicly released,” Yee wrote in a follow-up letter to Greg Schmidt, secretary of the senate. Again it was denied.</p>
<p>While disturbing, nothing can compare to the shroud surrounding the passage in October of California’s latest budget. It passed before the public had a chance to see the 800-page document and wasn’t available immediately afterward either. An assemblywoman admitted to the Sacramento Bee that she didn’t even see the package until shortly before her vote.</p>
<p>All of this despite a deal that was hammered out nearly a week earlier in a closed session that was not discussed with the media.</p>
<p>“The details will come out next week,” Schwarzenegger’s spokesman told the LA Times.</p>
<p>A bad rating</p>
<p>When it comes to comparisons with other states, California doesn’t really stack up.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.uspirg.org" type="external">U.S. Public Interest Research Group</a> (a coalition of advocacy organizations) gave the state’s website a “D” rating. &#160;A bill relating to developing a site containing contract grants, purchase orders, subcontracts, tax refunds, rebates and credits died in committee. Tax subsidies to corporations are missing from the site; and while the public can access a given state agency and its contracts, no justification for the expense is listed and often no vendor.</p>
<p>For example, a $16.5-million contract with the Department of Boating and Waterways lists the vendor as “unknown” for business with the San Francisco Marina West Harbor.</p>
<p>Schwarzenegger vetoed legislation requiring more detailed reporting of contracts.</p>
<p>The Better Government Association gave California an “F” for its responsiveness to Freedom of Information Act requests and ranked it 19th in the nation for transparency and ethics. The top three states were New Jersey, Rhode Island and Hawaii, with South Dakota, Vermont and Alabama at the bottom.</p>
<p>“The Legislature is just terrible,” said Scheer of the First Amendment Coalition.</p>
<p>“The average individual has the right to scrutinize government and get information,” added attorney Paul Boylan, who has filed dozens of Public Records Act lawsuits against government agencies. “We need to have someone go out there and ask the courts what they think and have them say, ‘This is the law. It’s the public’s right to know.’ ”</p>
<p>A big success</p>
<p>Open records advocates scored a big victory against the Legislature last year when the First Amendment Coalition sued to gain access to a state database detailing information on bills and amendments to bills.</p>
<p>This information would tell the public the about influences by lobbyists or campaign contributors on pieces of legislation. It would allow the media and general public to do an in-depth analysis on certain interest groups or legislators.</p>
<p>“One of the areas where transparency is hard to get is in the area of data,” Scheer said. “Governments are in possession of huge amounts of data. It’s the new frontier in Public Records Act requests.”</p>
<p>The state refused to provide the database, but rather referred Scheer to its Web site, where access to bills is available in a piecemeal fashion without ability to do a cross analysis.</p>
<p>After bringing the case to court, the legislature decided to settle it in favor of the plaintiffs, which also included MapLight.org, a non-profit research organization.</p>
<p>Two years ago both these plaintiffs successfully sued Santa Clara County in a similar type of case to gain access to a database containing geographic information.</p>
<p>“What matters to citizens is information to hold government accountable and how it’s stored is irrelevant to the public’s right to know,” said Daniel Newman, <a href="www.maplight.org" type="external">MapLight.org’s</a> executive director.</p>
<p>Another recent victory, but thanks to the courts and not the Legislature, involves access to pension information.</p>
<p><a href="http://reason.org/news/show/mysterious-things-happening-be" type="external">The California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)</a> began releasing data after the California Supreme Court decided in 2007 that salaries of all government officials by name were deemed public. The same didn’t hold true for other smaller pension systems throughout the state, which refused.</p>
<p>“People also asked for the same information from various counties and they encountered resistance,” Scheer said. “We sued. We were joined by the Sacramento Bee and the Modesto Bee, and there was another case in San Jose that someone else brought.”</p>
<p>While the Supreme Court has not ruled on this issue, the lower courts have and it was in favor of the plaintiffs.</p>
<p>Law enforcement</p>
<p>One of the biggest areas of secrecy continues to surround law enforcement with no end in sight.</p>
<p>Gov. Pete Wilson instituted a ban on media interviews in prison and a bill that would have overturned and allowed confidential correspondence between prisoners and the media was vetoed by Gov. Gray Davis. This remains in effect today.</p>
<p>Release of police reports is a gray area not specifically spelled out in the Public Records Act and the public relies on the whim of the police agency.</p>
<p>A <a href="http://www.aclunc.org/news/press_releases/open_records_good_government_bills_ab_1648_and_sb_1019_gain_support.shtml" type="external">2007 Supreme Court decision sealed records involving police officer conduct</a>, meaning that the public has no right to know whether officers have been involved in excessive force, shootings, or disciplinary actions. For two years after that, legislation seeking to overturn parts of this decision died in committee.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.aclunc.org/news/press_releases/open_records_good_government_bills_ab_1648_and_sb_1019_gain_support.shtml" type="external">Coroner’s reports involving murdered children can now be sealed</a> upon request by their parents. Schwarzenegger signed this law two months ago. It was spawned by the kidnapping murders of two San Diego children by the same man, which sparked a media frenzy. Counties where coroner’s offices are attached to the Sheriff’s Department view autopsy reports as part of the investigation and they are never released.</p>
<p>“I don’t see how things could become more secretive with cops,” Scheer said. “For all intents and purposes, we have a secret police force in California.”</p>
<p>As Gov. Brown comes into office, the media and open records activists eye him with curiosity.</p>
<p>“He is an interesting unknown quantity,” Public Records Act attorney Boylan said. “I don’t believe he is the same guy he was when he was governor last time. He seems like he is coming in now and talking about things he never said before, such as fiscal responsibility.</p>
<p>“I don’t know what he is going to do. He claims that he may champion public transparency; I think he may do it. The jury is out on Jerry Brown and what he is going to do. Whatever it is, it will be far better than what we have.”</p>
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dec 7 2010 tori richards gov jerry brown breezed office platform frugality openness californias government shown mandate secrecy could end sight fact first amendment experts say past decade era wasteful spending lawmakers bureaucrats spending small fortunes ensure information doesnt become public past 10 years getting worse said terry francke founder californians aware government watchdog group real problem much new decisions restrict access extreme difficulty getting legislation would improve access despite mounting pressure journalists citizens want accountability government california abysmal record openness refuses even follow new mandate imposed state court system upon mirror public records act suits often say information requests francke said reason feel confident saying law perceived impossible enforce go court indeed one eight bills introduced legislature last year seeking transparency signed law requests access battled courts costing taxpayers hundreds thousands dollars transparent brown brown anything change tough say top campaign officials ignored numerous requests information transparency agenda preparation article campaign web site proclaimed jerry browns record open government site listed browns accomplishments secretary state governor attorney general said political reform act governs disclosure political campaign contributions spending candidates ballot measure committees also sets ethics rules state local government officials impose limits decisions votes affect officials financial interests act also regulates lobbyists financial disclosures practices related legislature state agencies legislative open records act made records available public jan 6 1975 year brown began two terms governor ironically left office legislation passed restricting access gubernatorial records without permission governor law made retroactive covering browns tenure expires 50 years even though us president shield lasting dozen years peter scheer executive director first amendment coalition doesnt think brown protransparency depicts definitely responsibility creating law restricting access scheer said subsequent governors invoked law denied public access records seems absurd nixons records available 12 years jerry browns things would least political embarrassment make things secret scheer said reporters go rooting around records find things critical favorable scheer requested access browns records granted also requested mandate opening records something ignored brown scheer felt may granted access title wondered average citizen however browns attorney general spokeswoman christine gasparac said 11 requests granted one denied calwatchdogcom requested access month ago received answer backdrop brown takes governors mantle arnold schwarzenegger leader frequently vetoed open public records legislation lawmakers managed squeak legislation think governorelect better open government issues current governor said state sen leland yee dsan francisco open records advocate schwarzenegger often talked blowing boxes letting light actions rarely matched rhetoric experience jerry straight shooter looking forward working transparency issues uphill battle often voting conscience rallying behalf public access yee found opposite side status quo regarding government transparency founded senate committee public records open meeting laws wrote bills became law closing loopholes public records act included following disclosures state university governing board records 2007 government audits contracts 2008 university audits 2010 college media also given free speech protection biggest battle schwarzenegger vetoed bills introduced yee 2009 year aimed making university auxiliaries foundations subject public records act schwarzenegger justified saying organizations private making donations public would chilling effect issue brought head april yee filed public records request csu stanislaus asking documents related upcoming campus speech sarah palin commands sixfigure speaking fees university balked saying documentation yee fired back evidence contrary fundraiser hosted schools foundation documents correspondence hiding yee told associated press neither ap yee able obtain financial information regarding palins appearance even though foundation staff mostly university employees operate campus another notable incident happened yee tried buck system offering release schedule ap story legislators schedules yee sole legislator 120 willing release schedule news agency prohibited senate rules committee committee claimed schedules werent part legislative open records act clause excludes drafts notes memoranda personal files governor attorney general make schedules available press advocate government transparency respectfully request schedule publicly released yee wrote followup letter greg schmidt secretary senate denied disturbing nothing compare shroud surrounding passage october californias latest budget passed public chance see 800page document wasnt available immediately afterward either assemblywoman admitted sacramento bee didnt even see package shortly vote despite deal hammered nearly week earlier closed session discussed media details come next week schwarzeneggers spokesman told la times bad rating comes comparisons states california doesnt really stack us public interest research group coalition advocacy organizations gave states website rating 160a bill relating developing site containing contract grants purchase orders subcontracts tax refunds rebates credits died committee tax subsidies corporations missing site public access given state agency contracts justification expense listed often vendor example 165million contract department boating waterways lists vendor unknown business san francisco marina west harbor schwarzenegger vetoed legislation requiring detailed reporting contracts better government association gave california f responsiveness freedom information act requests ranked 19th nation transparency ethics top three states new jersey rhode island hawaii south dakota vermont alabama bottom legislature terrible said scheer first amendment coalition average individual right scrutinize government get information added attorney paul boylan filed dozens public records act lawsuits government agencies need someone go ask courts think say law publics right know big success open records advocates scored big victory legislature last year first amendment coalition sued gain access state database detailing information bills amendments bills information would tell public influences lobbyists campaign contributors pieces legislation would allow media general public indepth analysis certain interest groups legislators one areas transparency hard get area data scheer said governments possession huge amounts data new frontier public records act requests state refused provide database rather referred scheer web site access bills available piecemeal fashion without ability cross analysis bringing case court legislature decided settle favor plaintiffs also included maplightorg nonprofit research organization two years ago plaintiffs successfully sued santa clara county similar type case gain access database containing geographic information matters citizens information hold government accountable stored irrelevant publics right know said daniel newman maplightorgs executive director another recent victory thanks courts legislature involves access pension information california public employees retirement system calpers began releasing data california supreme court decided 2007 salaries government officials name deemed public didnt hold true smaller pension systems throughout state refused people also asked information various counties encountered resistance scheer said sued joined sacramento bee modesto bee another case san jose someone else brought supreme court ruled issue lower courts favor plaintiffs law enforcement one biggest areas secrecy continues surround law enforcement end sight gov pete wilson instituted ban media interviews prison bill would overturned allowed confidential correspondence prisoners media vetoed gov gray davis remains effect today release police reports gray area specifically spelled public records act public relies whim police agency 2007 supreme court decision sealed records involving police officer conduct meaning public right know whether officers involved excessive force shootings disciplinary actions two years legislation seeking overturn parts decision died committee coroners reports involving murdered children sealed upon request parents schwarzenegger signed law two months ago spawned kidnapping murders two san diego children man sparked media frenzy counties coroners offices attached sheriffs department view autopsy reports part investigation never released dont see things could become secretive cops scheer said intents purposes secret police force california gov brown comes office media open records activists eye curiosity interesting unknown quantity public records act attorney boylan said dont believe guy governor last time seems like coming talking things never said fiscal responsibility dont know going claims may champion public transparency think may jury jerry brown going whatever far better
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<p>It shouldn't be a surprise I live in a house with haint blue trim. But chances are if you aren't from the South you have no earthly idea what I'm talking&#160;about.</p>
<p>My people aren't Southerners, but I grew up there. I avoided the accent and went up North&#160;for college,&#160;but some cultural traits stuck with me —&#160; a propensity to use the word y'all and an affinity for a certain shade of blue used to ward off haints.</p>
<p>Sure I could have repainted, but it just seemed right to keep the haint blue exterior trim, even though I've never been one to believe in ghosts.</p>
<p>Vampires were the thing that went bump in my night. I would have painted my bedroom any color on the planet to keep them away.</p>
<p>I was terrified of them. In sixth grade I saw a science fair hologram of a vampire biting a woman's neck. I had insomnia for a year. I'd only sleep on rainy nights. Lord knows why I believed that vampires wouldn't go out in the rain. But I did. Other nights I'd pile pillows on my neck and stay up all night terrified.</p>
<p>If I'm honest about the men I find attractive, they look like vampires. Before he aged out of it, my husband was a dead ringer for one. (Dr. Freud, phone call on line one.) Those prepubescent fears were of course about something even more disturbing to me than vampires —&#160;my budding sexuality.&#160;Not monsters, duh.</p>
<p>As Halloween gets closer, I've been thinking a lot about why we chose our scary monsters. Monsters are frightening by definition, but somehow they usually protect us from something even scarier.</p>
<p>Take the city of Prague. There it is the Golem. Golems are men made of clay and brought to life by a secret Jewish incantation. They have incredible strength and will do anything for their master. The problem is they can become an uncontrollable violent force.</p>
<p>The legend has it that in the 16th century a Rabbi in Prague created one to protect the Jews of the city's ghetto. As violent purges&#160;raged in cities all across the region, the Jews of Prague stayed safe. But as it always happens with monsters, things eventually get out of control. The Golem turned on innocent people. It went on a rampage. And it had to be destroyed by its creator. Its remains supposedly sit to this day in the attic of the New Old Synagogue (that's its real name), though of course no one can prove that.</p>
<p>In the years since Prague could have been destroyed over and over again —&#160;in World War II, by the communists, by revolution. But it wasn't. Has the Golem been brought back to life from time to time to protect from scarier outside forces? You never know, right?</p>
<p>In contrast, Detroit&#160;has seen misfortune after misfortune. Bloody battles, fires, riots, economic devastation and more. Each time some Detroiter or another catches sight of the Nain Rouge before the catastrophe hits. This red dwarf is the harbinger of all bad things Detroit. Each year the city's citizens hold parades to drive him out. But Nain Rouge has gained some defenders recently because if you look back at the Native American legends, you'll find he's actually a protector and guardian of the city; a spirit who warns of future troubles rather than causes them. For a city where every path forward out its economic ruin is a double-edged sword, it's no surprise that&#160;its resident demon is a complicated character.</p>
<p>The monsters of Iceland are a fun cute twist on all this. But then everything in Iceland is just sort &#160;of sweet. The hidden people —&#160;fairies, elves, and other creatures —&#160;live in the rocks and hills. They're mostly friendly. A little mischievous at best. People even woo them —&#160;building tiny houses for them out back. While little people that can pop up unexpectedly aren't necessarily the most comforting proposition, when you live somewhere where the sheep outnumber the people and the winters are long, loneliness can take a big toll. The hidden people at least are there with you. I suppose the thought of odd little creatures hiding in the rocks and crags is less scary by far than complete isolation.</p>
<p>Before I was afraid of vampires, I mildly feared the Bell Witch. Everybody I knew was terrified of her. So I tried to get myself worked up. I just never could. The Bell Witch is another Southern thing —&#160;specifically a Tennessee thing. You stand in front of a mirror at midnight. You spin around 13 times while saying you hate her. Then she’ll appear and scratch your eyes out! The Bell Witch loomed large in the imagination of Southern girls. Did this haint originate as a way to keep Southern belles tucked safely in bed away from potential harm at the hands of a plantation's enslaved men? For whatever reason, the Bell Witch always seemed like a poltergeist who wasn't meant for girls like me, despite the terror she instilled in my friends.</p>
<p>To be scary, I suppose a monster has to resonate with something deep within us, within our culture&#160;or within our life predicament. But at a certain point you don't want to take chances, right? If blue paint will keep the haints away, I'm all for it.&#160;</p>
<p>I still sleep best on rainy nights, you'll never catch me chanting the Bell Witch's name at midnight, and for what it’s worth I keep a look out for the Nain Rouge whenever I’m in Detroit.</p>
<p>Tamar Charney, Nashville raised,&#160;is program director for <a href="http://michiganradio.org/#stream/0" type="external">Michigan Radio</a>. She&#160;has a habit on eavesdropping on people in restaurants and has a thing about Iceland. See her previous commentaries&#160; <a href="" type="internal">here.</a></p>
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shouldnt surprise live house haint blue trim chances arent south earthly idea im talking160about people arent southerners grew avoided accent went north160for college160but cultural traits stuck 160 propensity use word yall affinity certain shade blue used ward haints sure could repainted seemed right keep haint blue exterior trim even though ive never one believe ghosts vampires thing went bump night would painted bedroom color planet keep away terrified sixth grade saw science fair hologram vampire biting womans neck insomnia year id sleep rainy nights lord knows believed vampires wouldnt go rain nights id pile pillows neck stay night terrified im honest men find attractive look like vampires aged husband dead ringer one dr freud phone call line one prepubescent fears course something even disturbing vampires 160my budding sexuality160not monsters duh halloween gets closer ive thinking lot chose scary monsters monsters frightening definition somehow usually protect us something even scarier take city prague golem golems men made clay brought life secret jewish incantation incredible strength anything master problem become uncontrollable violent force legend 16th century rabbi prague created one protect jews citys ghetto violent purges160raged cities across region jews prague stayed safe always happens monsters things eventually get control golem turned innocent people went rampage destroyed creator remains supposedly sit day attic new old synagogue thats real name though course one prove years since prague could destroyed 160in world war ii communists revolution wasnt golem brought back life time time protect scarier outside forces never know right contrast detroit160has seen misfortune misfortune bloody battles fires riots economic devastation time detroiter another catches sight nain rouge catastrophe hits red dwarf harbinger bad things detroit year citys citizens hold parades drive nain rouge gained defenders recently look back native american legends youll find hes actually protector guardian city spirit warns future troubles rather causes city every path forward economic ruin doubleedged sword surprise that160its resident demon complicated character monsters iceland fun cute twist everything iceland sort 160of sweet hidden people 160fairies elves creatures 160live rocks hills theyre mostly friendly little mischievous best people even woo 160building tiny houses back little people pop unexpectedly arent necessarily comforting proposition live somewhere sheep outnumber people winters long loneliness take big toll hidden people least suppose thought odd little creatures hiding rocks crags less scary far complete isolation afraid vampires mildly feared bell witch everybody knew terrified tried get worked never could bell witch another southern thing 160specifically tennessee thing stand front mirror midnight spin around 13 times saying hate shell appear scratch eyes bell witch loomed large imagination southern girls haint originate way keep southern belles tucked safely bed away potential harm hands plantations enslaved men whatever reason bell witch always seemed like poltergeist wasnt meant girls like despite terror instilled friends scary suppose monster resonate something deep within us within culture160or within life predicament certain point dont want take chances right blue paint keep haints away im it160 still sleep best rainy nights youll never catch chanting bell witchs name midnight worth keep look nain rouge whenever im detroit tamar charney nashville raised160is program director michigan radio she160has habit eavesdropping people restaurants thing iceland see previous commentaries160
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<p><a href="" type="internal" />June 28, 2012</p>
<p>By John Seiler</p>
<p>Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2011/12/capitol-community-celebrates-skeltons-50-years-of-california-coverage.html" type="external">recently was feted</a> by liberal journos and others for reporting on California for 50 years. Actually, usually he’s been just a rubber stamp for the centralized tyranny known as the California government.</p>
<p>His latest outrage: Misrepresenting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s cancelling the car tax increase back in 2003, one of the few things Arnold right. The much-awarded Skelton wrote an article ridiculously titled, “ <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cap-budget-20120628,0,3066275.column" type="external">Overspending isn’t California’s problem:&#160;Face it: More budget cuts won’t pay for everything the state needs.</a>”</p>
<p>“Everything the state needs” means the greedy pay, perks and pensions going to his buddies in the government. Here’s the misleading part:</p>
<p>“Sacramento, for example, still is spending way too much money on former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s showboating car tax cut.</p>
<p>“Yes, that crowd-pleasing slash in the vehicle license fee — which had existed for many decades without a public fuss — resulted in a $6-billion annual spending burden on the state treasury. That’s because the car tax revenue had gone to local governments. When Schwarzenegger cut it in 2003, he kept sending an equivalent amount of money to the locals anyway.”</p>
<p>“spending … money” on a “tax cut”? What a revealing phrase. Skelton assumes that government owns you and everything you produce; you’re its slave. It then “spends” money on education, roads, prisons, cops, pensions, etc. — and “spending” includes dribbling back to you a little of what it stole from your slave labor to use for your own family.</p>
<p>Now, here’s what really happened, as Skelton should remember, or as anyone with an Internet connection can find out:</p>
<p>1. Gov. Gray Davis&#160;illegally tripled the car tax. Then-state Sen. Tom McClintock <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2003/nov/03/opinion/oe-mcclintocksub3" type="external">wrote at the time</a>, right in Skelton’s own L.A. Times in 2003 just after Arnold was elected to replace Davis and canceled the illegal tax increase:</p>
<p>“Five years ago, a series of legislative enactments reduced the car tax by two-thirds. Local governments, which pay for firefighters, never lost a penny of funding because the law fully reimbursed them from the state’s General Fund. The law even provided that if the state should go bankrupt, funds would still flow to local governments through a temporary, month-to-month car tax increase directed by the state controller.</p>
<p>“In June, Gov. Gray Davis tripled the car tax by fiat while cutting off reimbursements to local governments for three months. His action cost cities and counties $1 billion in lost revenue and cost motorists an additional $4 billion in unauthorized taxes. The only time local governments have lost money from the car tax is when Davis raised it.</p>
<p>“The official legal office of the Legislature has already opined that not one of the conditions required to raise the tax has been met. If the courts agree, the illegally collected tax — plus interest — must ultimately be returned, blowing a new multibillion-dollar hole in a future state budget.”</p>
<p>2. Davis’ illegal tripling of the car tax was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casus_belli" type="external">casus belli</a> of the recall against him. Other factors, such as his dithering during the 2001-02 electricity crisis, contributed to his being booted from office. But his illegal tax increase enraged voters during that summer of their discontent. Still, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_gubernatorial_recall_election" type="external">only 55 percen</a>t voted to send him into retirement. Without his carjacking of car drivers, Davis probably would have beaten the recall.</p>
<p>3. Schwarzenegger won the recall election on a strong promise to rescind the illegal car tax tripling. Shouldn’t politicians keep their promises? He never would have won the recall with that promise, because Davis, as noted, would have stayed in office. And Arnold’s solemn pledge to “terminate” the illegal tax increase guaranteed he would win first place among the replacement candidates.</p>
<p>4. If Arnold had not rescinded the illegal car tax, he would have started his new governorship by breaking the pledge that bonded him to voters, possibly sparking his own recall. Of course, Arnold ended up being a terrible governor because, after two years, he started listening to liberals like his wife, Maria, and Skelton. He imposed the dictatorial, anti-jobs AB 32 in 2006. And in 2009, he imposed a record $13 billion tax hike that slammed the state economy during the start of the weak recovery.</p>
<p>5. If Arnold had not rescinded the car tax, <a href="http://smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?type=lnews&amp;id=23125&amp;eddate=06/21/2003" type="external">McClintock was readying</a> both court challenges and a papers to file a repeal initiative, which would have passed overwhelmingly in 2004. So the tax hike would have disappeared anyway.</p>
<p>6. By canceling the tax cut, Arnold demonstrated — for two years, anyway — that it was safe again in California to run a business or be a worker who paid taxes; that people like Skelton wouldn’t automatically be allowed to paint a bull’s eye on you back just because you held a job an drove a car.</p>
<p>7. The middle class was given a little reprieve. But Skelton doesn’t care about the middle class, the folks who toil long hours for their families and pay the massive taxes to live in the most dysfunctional state in the land just because it has good weather. And Arnold, after he became Benedict Arnold in 2006, also didn’t care about the middle-class folks who mistakenly put him into power in 2003 instead of the great McClintock.</p>
<p>Fortunately, Californians no longer need to depend on the old, Main Stream Media, like the L.A. Times and Skelton. Alternatives like CalWatchDog.com now exist to let people know what’s really going on.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
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june 28 2012 john seiler los angeles times columnist george skelton recently feted liberal journos others reporting california 50 years actually usually hes rubber stamp centralized tyranny known california government latest outrage misrepresenting gov arnold schwarzeneggers cancelling car tax increase back 2003 one things arnold right muchawarded skelton wrote article ridiculously titled overspending isnt californias problem160face budget cuts wont pay everything state needs everything state needs means greedy pay perks pensions going buddies government heres misleading part sacramento example still spending way much money former gov arnold schwarzeneggers showboating car tax cut yes crowdpleasing slash vehicle license fee existed many decades without public fuss resulted 6billion annual spending burden state treasury thats car tax revenue gone local governments schwarzenegger cut 2003 kept sending equivalent amount money locals anyway spending money tax cut revealing phrase skelton assumes government owns everything produce youre slave spends money education roads prisons cops pensions etc spending includes dribbling back little stole slave labor use family heres really happened skelton remember anyone internet connection find 1 gov gray davis160illegally tripled car tax thenstate sen tom mcclintock wrote time right skeltons la times 2003 arnold elected replace davis canceled illegal tax increase five years ago series legislative enactments reduced car tax twothirds local governments pay firefighters never lost penny funding law fully reimbursed states general fund law even provided state go bankrupt funds would still flow local governments temporary monthtomonth car tax increase directed state controller june gov gray davis tripled car tax fiat cutting reimbursements local governments three months action cost cities counties 1 billion lost revenue cost motorists additional 4 billion unauthorized taxes time local governments lost money car tax davis raised official legal office legislature already opined one conditions required raise tax met courts agree illegally collected tax plus interest must ultimately returned blowing new multibilliondollar hole future state budget 2 davis illegal tripling car tax casus belli recall factors dithering 200102 electricity crisis contributed booted office illegal tax increase enraged voters summer discontent still 55 percent voted send retirement without carjacking car drivers davis probably would beaten recall 3 schwarzenegger recall election strong promise rescind illegal car tax tripling shouldnt politicians keep promises never would recall promise davis noted would stayed office arnolds solemn pledge terminate illegal tax increase guaranteed would win first place among replacement candidates 4 arnold rescinded illegal car tax would started new governorship breaking pledge bonded voters possibly sparking recall course arnold ended terrible governor two years started listening liberals like wife maria skelton imposed dictatorial antijobs ab 32 2006 2009 imposed record 13 billion tax hike slammed state economy start weak recovery 5 arnold rescinded car tax mcclintock readying court challenges papers file repeal initiative would passed overwhelmingly 2004 tax hike would disappeared anyway 6 canceling tax cut arnold demonstrated two years anyway safe california run business worker paid taxes people like skelton wouldnt automatically allowed paint bulls eye back held job drove car 7 middle class given little reprieve skelton doesnt care middle class folks toil long hours families pay massive taxes live dysfunctional state land good weather arnold became benedict arnold 2006 also didnt care middleclass folks mistakenly put power 2003 instead great mcclintock fortunately californians longer need depend old main stream media like la times skelton alternatives like calwatchdogcom exist let people know whats really going 160
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<p>Neville Callam will make history for Baptists around the world if elected general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance.</p>
<p>If elected in July, the 55-year-old Jamaican pastor will be the first non-white chief executive of the group, which represents approximately 110 million Baptists in national and regional bodies across the planet. He would also be the first general secretary in the group’s 101-year history to hail from somewhere other than the United States or Europe.</p>
<p>Neville Callam</p>
<p>Callam, who would succeed Denton Lotz, the organization’s retiring general secretary, was announced as the nominee March 7 during a meeting of the BWA executive committee at the group’s Falls Church headquarters. The panel responded by giving the nominee a standing ovation and symbolically affirming the candidate.</p>
<p>“Rev. Callam is a seminal theological thinker … and he is an articulate statesman,” said John Sundquist, chairman of the search committee that recommended Callam. “I was so impressed by his capacity to listen—the way he is able to take any question, any inquiry, and begin to exegete it biblically.”</p>
<p>Sundquist called Callam a “genius” who is “a Renaissance man—and a dedicated, humble follower of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”</p>
<p>Callam, in response, said he would offer only one sentence: “All I have to say is, if this is how the Lord is leading us, I am willing to follow.”</p>
<p>In speaking of his commitment to the Christian gospel, Callam said, “Living for Jesus is what my life is about. My calling is to serve the cause of Christ. I have had reason to be very thankful for my Baptist heritage, which I celebrate.”</p>
<p>The position will not become formal until the organization’s larger governing body, the BWA General Council, votes on Callam’s nomination during its July meeting in Accra, Ghana.</p>
<p>Pastor of Tarrant Baptist Church in Kingston, Jamaica, Callam has been heavily involved in BWA life for more than 20 years. He has served on BWA governing bodies and on several other committees and work groups for the organization. He currently belongs to the BWA’s Implementation Task Force, which is charged with restructuring the organization for the future.</p>
<p>Callam has served two terms as president of the Jamaica Baptist Union and has, at other times, held every other office for that denomination, including acting general secretary. He also worked on the boards of several public and religious media organizations in Jamaica.</p>
<p>He also serves as a member of the World Council of Churches’ Faith and Order Commission. It is a theological discussion forum whose membership is not limited to denominations that cooperate with the ecumenical council. Southern Baptist Convention leader Timothy George is the only other Baptist who serves on the commission.</p>
<p>A Harvard Divinity School and University of the West Indies graduate, Callam is a specialist in Christian ethics. He and his wife, Dulcie, have two grown children.</p>
<p>Burchell Taylor, president of the Caribbean Baptist Fellowship and a member of the Executive Committee, said Baptists in the West Indies are excited about Callam’s nomination and what it will signify for the global Baptist movement.</p>
<p>“We regard his elevation to this post as a great historic statement by this Baptist world family, and we do think that it will have consequences for the good as the unfolding future comes upon us,” he said.</p>
<p>The man Callam is slated to replace said the election of a non-white candidate who does not come from a First World nation signifies the radical changes global Christianity has undergone since the alliance’s founding.</p>
<p>“The fact is, the Christian faith has moved to the Southern Hemisphere. Neville represents that tradition of African Christianity that is winning the world” for Christ, said Lotz. “And maybe we in the West need to be re-missionized and re-evangelized by the [global] South.”</p>
<p>Sundquist said the place where BWA members will vote on Callam’s election is significant.</p>
<p>“We will, in the providence of God, install Neville Callam into the office of general secretary when we are in Ghana,” he said. “Neville’s [ancestors] were shipped in slave ships from Ghana to Jamaica. And now he becomes, in Ghana, the leader of the Baptist World Alliance.”</p>
<p>At the March meeting, BWA leaders also heard a financial report and expressed concern about strained relations with some Baptist unions in former Soviet-bloc countries.</p>
<p>Ellen Teague, the BWA’s director of finance and administration, noted that the organization ended 2006 with nearly $500,000 more in net assets than it had at the end of 2005. She said the BWA’s income from individual and church donations has increased dramatically in recent years. In 2003, for example, the group received approximately $315,000 directly from local churches. By 2006, the figure was more than $761,000.</p>
<p>The increase was due in large part to appeals to individual churches after the group’s largest member body left the organization in 2004. That year, the Southern Baptist Convention alleged BWA was too open to working with member bodies—like the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship—that hold doctrinal positions contrary to the positions of SBC leaders. It also accused the organization of tolerating “anti-Americanism.”</p>
<p>The European Baptist Federation, comprised of BWA member unions from Europe, the Middle East and the former Soviet republics, reported that two Baptist denominations in small Central Asian republics had left the BWA in the past year. Leaders of the Baptist unions in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan cited concerns similar to the Southern Baptists’ in deciding to leave the worldwide fellowship.</p>
<p>In addition, Baptists in Romania are in the midst of a struggle over leadership that could decide the future of their relationship with the BWA, according to Tony Peck. Peck is the European Baptist Federation general secretary.</p>
<p>An upcoming election for the Romanian Baptist Union’s presidency pits an anti-BWA candidate against Otniel Bunaciu, vice president of the Union’s seminary that supports continued BWA involvement.</p>
<p>“We need to pray for him [Bunaciu] and the Romanian Union for the future,” Peck said. “We really do need to pray for the situation. We don’t want a division and the split there; we want them to find a way forward in our Baptist world family.”</p>
<p>The committee also honored Lotz, whose retirement was announced a year ago. North American Baptists honored him with a banquet prior to the executive committee meeting; similar celebrations are set for Europe and the General Council meeting in Ghana.</p>
<p>Several BWA leaders honored Lotz for helping internationalize the organization’s leadership. The retiring general secretary said he was simply implementing the vision of his predecessor, Gerhard Claas, whose 1988 death in a car accident elevated Lotz to the office.</p>
<p>“We have internationalized the BWA, and it’s not just a NATO group—it is a world organization,” he said, referring to Claas’ hope to extend the BWA’s participation and leadership far beyond Baptists in North America and Western Europe.</p>
<p>“We need more and more to hear the voice of the Asians and the Latins and the Africans maybe telling us how to do missions,” Lotz continued. “Isn’t it funny that we’re the ones whose churches are empty, but we’re still telling them how to do missions?”</p>
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neville callam make history baptists around world elected general secretary baptist world alliance elected july 55yearold jamaican pastor first nonwhite chief executive group represents approximately 110 million baptists national regional bodies across planet would also first general secretary groups 101year history hail somewhere united states europe neville callam callam would succeed denton lotz organizations retiring general secretary announced nominee march 7 meeting bwa executive committee groups falls church headquarters panel responded giving nominee standing ovation symbolically affirming candidate rev callam seminal theological thinker articulate statesman said john sundquist chairman search committee recommended callam impressed capacity listenthe way able take question inquiry begin exegete biblically sundquist called callam genius renaissance manand dedicated humble follower lord savior jesus christ callam response said would offer one sentence say lord leading us willing follow speaking commitment christian gospel callam said living jesus life calling serve cause christ reason thankful baptist heritage celebrate position become formal organizations larger governing body bwa general council votes callams nomination july meeting accra ghana pastor tarrant baptist church kingston jamaica callam heavily involved bwa life 20 years served bwa governing bodies several committees work groups organization currently belongs bwas implementation task force charged restructuring organization future callam served two terms president jamaica baptist union times held every office denomination including acting general secretary also worked boards several public religious media organizations jamaica also serves member world council churches faith order commission theological discussion forum whose membership limited denominations cooperate ecumenical council southern baptist convention leader timothy george baptist serves commission harvard divinity school university west indies graduate callam specialist christian ethics wife dulcie two grown children burchell taylor president caribbean baptist fellowship member executive committee said baptists west indies excited callams nomination signify global baptist movement regard elevation post great historic statement baptist world family think consequences good unfolding future comes upon us said man callam slated replace said election nonwhite candidate come first world nation signifies radical changes global christianity undergone since alliances founding fact christian faith moved southern hemisphere neville represents tradition african christianity winning world christ said lotz maybe west need remissionized reevangelized global south sundquist said place bwa members vote callams election significant providence god install neville callam office general secretary ghana said nevilles ancestors shipped slave ships ghana jamaica becomes ghana leader baptist world alliance march meeting bwa leaders also heard financial report expressed concern strained relations baptist unions former sovietbloc countries ellen teague bwas director finance administration noted organization ended 2006 nearly 500000 net assets end 2005 said bwas income individual church donations increased dramatically recent years 2003 example group received approximately 315000 directly local churches 2006 figure 761000 increase due large part appeals individual churches groups largest member body left organization 2004 year southern baptist convention alleged bwa open working member bodieslike cooperative baptist fellowshipthat hold doctrinal positions contrary positions sbc leaders also accused organization tolerating antiamericanism european baptist federation comprised bwa member unions europe middle east former soviet republics reported two baptist denominations small central asian republics left bwa past year leaders baptist unions kazakhstan kyrgyzstan cited concerns similar southern baptists deciding leave worldwide fellowship addition baptists romania midst struggle leadership could decide future relationship bwa according tony peck peck european baptist federation general secretary upcoming election romanian baptist unions presidency pits antibwa candidate otniel bunaciu vice president unions seminary supports continued bwa involvement need pray bunaciu romanian union future peck said really need pray situation dont want division split want find way forward baptist world family committee also honored lotz whose retirement announced year ago north american baptists honored banquet prior executive committee meeting similar celebrations set europe general council meeting ghana several bwa leaders honored lotz helping internationalize organizations leadership retiring general secretary said simply implementing vision predecessor gerhard claas whose 1988 death car accident elevated lotz office internationalized bwa nato groupit world organization said referring claas hope extend bwas participation leadership far beyond baptists north america western europe need hear voice asians latins africans maybe telling us missions lotz continued isnt funny ones whose churches empty still telling missions
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<p>The papal motorcade is expected to pass the headquarters of the Human Rights Campaign. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>LGBT Catholics say they plan to greet Pope Francis in a friendly, dignified way during his visit to the nation’s capital Sept. 22-24, with the expectation that the papal motorcade will drive past them on Sept. 23 as they assemble in front of the Human Rights Campaign building.</p>
<p>HRC, the nation’s largest LGBT civil rights organization, owns an eight-story office building at 17th Street and Rhode Island Ave., N.W., which it uses as its national headquarters.</p>
<p>The building is located less than two blocks from Saint Matthew’s Cathedral, where Francis is scheduled to lead an 11:30 a.m. prayer service for as many as 200 Catholic bishops.</p>
<p>At the conclusion of the prayer service the bishops were expected to travel in the papal motorcade past the HRC building en route to the Pope’s next event – a Mass he’s scheduled to hold at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception next to Catholic University.</p>
<p>Daniel Barutta, president of the D.C. LGBT Catholic group Dignity Washington, said the group has been working with HRC over the past several weeks to organize a visible contingent of LGBT Catholics and their supporters to greet the papal motorcade.</p>
<p>“We expect to have about 30 Dignity Washington members on the lawn outside the building, and we’ll be holding our banner,” Barutta said.</p>
<p>He said the professionally designed banner reads, “Pope Francis: The Spirit is Speaking Through Us – LGBT Catholics — Dignity Washington.”</p>
<p>HRC spokesperson Elizabeth Halloran said HRC was organizing its own contingent of supporters to welcome the pontiff.</p>
<p>“HRC will certainly have a significant presence outside our building, which, as you know, is just up the block from the Cathedral of Saint Matthews where Pope Francis will hold a midday prayer service,” she said. “We will be part of the crowd welcoming the Pope, and urging him to fully embrace the LGBT faithful.”</p>
<p>Halloran said HRC planned to hang its own banner greeting the Pope from the façade of its building. She said HRC was planning other events and announcements associated with the papal visit, including the release of HRC commissioned polling data on Catholic attitudes toward LGBT people.</p>
<p>Among other things, the group was to release details about an invitation that HRC President Chad Griffin had sent to Pope Francis asking to meet with him during Francis’s Washington visit, according to Halloran.</p>
<p>In a statement released on Wednesday, HRC said the banner it planned to display on its building would have this message: “We Are Your Children, Your Teachers, Your Faithful. Welcomed by God. Dismissed By Our Bishops. Pope Francis, Will You Welcome Us Home?”</p>
<p>Barutta was among a separate contingent of LGBT Catholics and their supporters invited by the White House to attend a White House reception hosted by President Obama for Pope Francis. The reception was scheduled to begin 9:15 a.m. on Sept. 23.</p>
<p>Others invited to attend the White House reception were Sister Jeannine Gramick, co-founder of New Ways Ministry, a suburban Maryland group that ministers to LGBT Catholics; the group’s executive director, Francis DeBernardo; Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of the national LGBT Catholic group Dignity USA; and Dignity Washington members Bob Miailovich, Lauren Carpenter, Ray Panas, and Allen Rose.</p>
<p>Gramick said that through her religious order she received an invitation to attend the Mass led by the Pope at the National Shrine scheduled for 4 p.m. on Sept. 23.</p>
<p>Dignity Washington Treasurer Tom Bower said Dignity members, like most LGBT Catholics, have mixed feelings about Francis’s positions on LGBT people and the Catholic Church.</p>
<p>“They are happy the Pope is coming to town,” said Bower. “On the other hand some feel he’s largely a disappointment thus far. He has a very good tone. But I don’t think there’s much anticipation of a real, true change,” Bower said.</p>
<p>D.C. gay activist John Klenert, who’s been a member of the Saint Matthews Cathedral parish for more than 20 years, said he jumped at an offer by Saint Matthews to allow parishioners to apply for one of 50 tickets made available to enable them to stand in a roped off area next to the cathedral’s entrance at the time of the Pope’s arrival on Sept. 23. Klenert received one of the tickets and is looking forward to joining fellow parishioners in welcoming the Pope.</p>
<p>“Somehow I think when you see somebody in person you get a different impression of the person, even if it’s for just a fleeting moment – versus what you get when you see them on television,” said Klenert. “He is the Pope.”</p>
<p>Added Klenert, “I’m hoping maybe that before he goes into the cathedral that he’ll come over to shake hands or something like that.”</p>
<p>Asked how he feels about Francis’s positions on LGBT equality and LGBT people in the church, Klenert said that like many of his fellow LGBT Catholics, he was encouraged by Francis’s welcoming comments about gays, including his reported statement that gay men and lesbians should not be marginalized or judged.</p>
<p>“The church is over 2,000 years old,” said Klenert. “If the church teaches us anything, it does things at its own pace. Look at how long it took them to declare Galileo was correct,” he said.</p>
<p>“So the fact that he would even say what he did say – who am I to judge? – is a step in the right direction,” Klenert said.</p>
<p>Veteran gay Catholic activist and Dignity Washington member Morgan McDonald said it was too early to tell whether Pope Francis’s perceived views welcoming LGBT Catholics would filter down to Catholic parishes in the D.C. area and elsewhere.</p>
<p>Like other Dignity members, McDonald noted that some D.C. Catholic parishes are known to be more welcoming of LGBT people than others. He said it was rare to hear of priests in any of the D.C. area parishes speaking out against homosexuality in their Sunday sermons in the way some fundamentalist Protestant ministers do.</p>
<p>“They’re not unwelcoming,” he said. “But they’re not directly welcoming either. In the Catholic world it’s all a world of don’t ask, don’t tell,” said McDonald. “If you don’t tell us anything we won’t ask.”</p>
<p>HRC President Chad Griffin said in the statement released&#160;on Wednesday that many in the LGBT community have been heartened by Pope Francis’s “compassionate words” and his willingness to move toward a fuller embrace of people of faith that the Catholic Church has rejected in the past.</p>
<p>“But, sadly, many in our community are still being fired from their jobs at Catholic schools, and shunned by their church communities simply because of who they are,” Griffin said. “So while we join in welcoming the Pope to the United States, we will also be urging him to continue to move toward greater acceptance and embrace of members of our community who are longing to hear that their Church welcomes them – and their families – fully,” he said. “We are all God’s children.”</p>
<p />
<p><a href="" type="internal">Allen Rose</a> <a href="" type="internal">Bob Miailovich</a> <a href="" type="internal">Catholic Church</a> <a href="" type="internal">Chad Griffin</a> <a href="" type="internal">D.C.</a> <a href="" type="internal">Daniel Barutta</a> <a href="" type="internal">Dignity</a> <a href="" type="internal">Dignity Washington</a> <a href="" type="internal">Francis DeBernardo</a> <a href="" type="internal">HRC</a> <a href="" type="internal">Human Rights Campaign</a> <a href="" type="internal">Jeannine Gramick</a> <a href="" type="internal">John Klenert</a> <a href="" type="internal">Lauren Carpenter</a> <a href="" type="internal">Marianne Duddy-Burke</a> <a href="" type="internal">Morgan McDonald</a> <a href="" type="internal">New Ways Ministry</a> <a href="" type="internal">Pope Francis</a> <a href="" type="internal">Ray Panas</a> <a href="" type="internal">Tom Bower</a></p>
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papal motorcade expected pass headquarters human rights campaign washington blade photo michael key lgbt catholics say plan greet pope francis friendly dignified way visit nations capital sept 2224 expectation papal motorcade drive past sept 23 assemble front human rights campaign building hrc nations largest lgbt civil rights organization owns eightstory office building 17th street rhode island ave nw uses national headquarters building located less two blocks saint matthews cathedral francis scheduled lead 1130 prayer service many 200 catholic bishops conclusion prayer service bishops expected travel papal motorcade past hrc building en route popes next event mass hes scheduled hold basilica national shrine immaculate conception next catholic university daniel barutta president dc lgbt catholic group dignity washington said group working hrc past several weeks organize visible contingent lgbt catholics supporters greet papal motorcade expect 30 dignity washington members lawn outside building well holding banner barutta said said professionally designed banner reads pope francis spirit speaking us lgbt catholics dignity washington hrc spokesperson elizabeth halloran said hrc organizing contingent supporters welcome pontiff hrc certainly significant presence outside building know block cathedral saint matthews pope francis hold midday prayer service said part crowd welcoming pope urging fully embrace lgbt faithful halloran said hrc planned hang banner greeting pope façade building said hrc planning events announcements associated papal visit including release hrc commissioned polling data catholic attitudes toward lgbt people among things group release details invitation hrc president chad griffin sent pope francis asking meet franciss washington visit according halloran statement released wednesday hrc said banner planned display building would message children teachers faithful welcomed god dismissed bishops pope francis welcome us home barutta among separate contingent lgbt catholics supporters invited white house attend white house reception hosted president obama pope francis reception scheduled begin 915 sept 23 others invited attend white house reception sister jeannine gramick cofounder new ways ministry suburban maryland group ministers lgbt catholics groups executive director francis debernardo marianne duddyburke executive director national lgbt catholic group dignity usa dignity washington members bob miailovich lauren carpenter ray panas allen rose gramick said religious order received invitation attend mass led pope national shrine scheduled 4 pm sept 23 dignity washington treasurer tom bower said dignity members like lgbt catholics mixed feelings franciss positions lgbt people catholic church happy pope coming town said bower hand feel hes largely disappointment thus far good tone dont think theres much anticipation real true change bower said dc gay activist john klenert whos member saint matthews cathedral parish 20 years said jumped offer saint matthews allow parishioners apply one 50 tickets made available enable stand roped area next cathedrals entrance time popes arrival sept 23 klenert received one tickets looking forward joining fellow parishioners welcoming pope somehow think see somebody person get different impression person even fleeting moment versus get see television said klenert pope added klenert im hoping maybe goes cathedral hell come shake hands something like asked feels franciss positions lgbt equality lgbt people church klenert said like many fellow lgbt catholics encouraged franciss welcoming comments gays including reported statement gay men lesbians marginalized judged church 2000 years old said klenert church teaches us anything things pace look long took declare galileo correct said fact would even say say judge step right direction klenert said veteran gay catholic activist dignity washington member morgan mcdonald said early tell whether pope franciss perceived views welcoming lgbt catholics would filter catholic parishes dc area elsewhere like dignity members mcdonald noted dc catholic parishes known welcoming lgbt people others said rare hear priests dc area parishes speaking homosexuality sunday sermons way fundamentalist protestant ministers theyre unwelcoming said theyre directly welcoming either catholic world world dont ask dont tell said mcdonald dont tell us anything wont ask hrc president chad griffin said statement released160on wednesday many lgbt community heartened pope franciss compassionate words willingness move toward fuller embrace people faith catholic church rejected past sadly many community still fired jobs catholic schools shunned church communities simply griffin said join welcoming pope united states also urging continue move toward greater acceptance embrace members community longing hear church welcomes families fully said gods children allen rose bob miailovich catholic church chad griffin dc daniel barutta dignity dignity washington francis debernardo hrc human rights campaign jeannine gramick john klenert lauren carpenter marianne duddyburke morgan mcdonald new ways ministry pope francis ray panas tom bower
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<p>By Bill Leonard</p>
<p>In 1833 Lyman Beecher, minister, educator and patriarch of one of America’s most prominent Protestant families, became president of Lane Theological Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. Beecher’s move from his native New England was reflected in his essay, <a href="http://archive.org/download/pleaforwest00beec/pleaforwest00beec.pdf" type="external">A Plea for the West</a>, calling Protestants to go westward to civilize the barbarian frontier and keep the Ohio River Valley from falling into Roman Catholic hands.</p>
<p>Beecher no sooner arrived than he confronted a student coalition determined to stand for evangelism and abolition. After an 18-night debate in 1834 students organized an abolitionist society and began teaching freed blacks in Cincinnati.</p>
<p>This “mingling” of the races caused great concern, leading trustees to shut down the anti-slavery organization and order students to avoid all public commentary on slavery issues. In response, 37 of 40 theology students left, many retreating to what became Oberlin College, the first school in the country to allow blacks and women to study for degrees.</p>
<p>Describing the events, <a href="http://americanabolitionist.liberalarts.iupui.edu/stantonhb.htm" type="external">H. B. Stanton</a> observed that southerners, though steeped in pro-slavery arguments, could be influenced for abolition “as easy as any other class of our citizens.”</p>
<p>That assessment prevailed in 1962, when students compelled Wake Forest University to become one of the first private schools in the South to integrate its student body. It began, student organizer Glenn Blackburn says, when some Baptist Student Union members formed the African Student Program, a plan to integrate Wake Forest by “embarrassing” the school into admitting a person of color from the “mission field.” They called Baptists to accept the university’s motto, Pro Humanitate (for humanity), taking responsibility for educating those whom they would evangelize.</p>
<p>Using their Baptist network, Wake Forest religion professors asked missionaries to recommend Africans willing to seek admission to the school. In response, missionary Harris Mobley found Ed Reynolds, a Presbyterian student from Ghana. Reynolds agreed to come to Wake Forest, and the African Student Program raised funds for his trip.</p>
<p>Trustee resistance continued, forcing Reynolds to do two years at Shaw University, a predominately African-American school in Raleigh. Ultimately the trustees acquiesced and Reynolds was admitted in the fall of 1962 along with an African-American female day student. (Black women were not admitted to campus residency for several years.)</p>
<p>The student body itself was divided over the issue with 742 voting against integration and 644 voting for it. Integrationists were not deterred.</p>
<p>Reynolds, recently retired professor from the University of California, San Diego, today resists suggestions that his was a special act of bravery. Yet he also acknowledges that growing up as a Christian taught him “to live life courageously.” Now 70, Reynolds still speaks with a sense of determination regarding his entry to Wake Forest 50 years ago, expressing gratitude for the people who responded to him educationally and communally.</p>
<p>University chaplain Ed Christman was a consistent advocate for Reynolds, helping secure scholarship and other financial aid, linking him with students committed to the cause. Religion professor G. Macloud Bryan was a major proponent of the integration at the university, having engaged in similar efforts while teaching at Mercer University. He and missionary Mobley helped another Ghanaian, Sam Oni, become the first black student admitted to that Georgia Baptist school in 1963.</p>
<p>Ed Reynolds speaks glowingly of Bryan’s contribution to his life. “He stretched my thinking,” Reynolds recalls, encouraging students to research ethical issues on race, war, and homosexuality in the turbulent 1960s. J. Allen Easley, chair of the religion department, also supported university integration, insisting that “someone with authority” needed to take leadership for the cause.</p>
<p>Reynolds retains books that Easley gave him when he retired from Wake Forest. Affirmations came in various ways. Of New Testament Professor Dan Via, Reynolds says: “He took me to J. C. Penny’s and bought me a suit.” Students invited him for holidays, often as the first black person to share meals in their homes. Integration took many forms.</p>
<p>Half a century ago a group of progressive Baptist students and faculty helped integrate Wake Forest University. When admitting an African-American proved difficult, integrationists succeeded in bringing an African to the student body. They confronted Baptists with their own theology, challenging their consciences to educate those they sought to evangelize.</p>
<p>It is a witness worth celebrating even if the university still has a long way to go. The Winston Salem Journal reports that currently only 7.5 percent of the student body is African-American, while 26 percent of students in this year’s entering class represent racial minorities.</p>
<p>This year Wake Forest welcomed its largest contingent Chinese students, many recruited through the work of Dr. Linda McKinnish Bridges, associate dean of admissions. Bridges, an ordained Baptist minister, learned to speak Mandarin as a Southern Baptist missionary to Taiwan years ago.</p>
<p>Ironically, while many Baptist churches in the South still would not recognize Bridges’ ordination, her Baptist-facilitated linguistic ability is a gift that is “bearing fruit” at Wake Forest. The “Lane Seminary Rebels” would be pleased.</p>
<p>This year the student government president at Wake Forest is a gay African-American. For universities, faith communities and individuals, Pro Humanitate remains a dangerous, restless motto.</p>
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bill leonard 1833 lyman beecher minister educator patriarch one americas prominent protestant families became president lane theological seminary cincinnati ohio beechers move native new england reflected essay plea west calling protestants go westward civilize barbarian frontier keep ohio river valley falling roman catholic hands beecher sooner arrived confronted student coalition determined stand evangelism abolition 18night debate 1834 students organized abolitionist society began teaching freed blacks cincinnati mingling races caused great concern leading trustees shut antislavery organization order students avoid public commentary slavery issues response 37 40 theology students left many retreating became oberlin college first school country allow blacks women study degrees describing events h b stanton observed southerners though steeped proslavery arguments could influenced abolition easy class citizens assessment prevailed 1962 students compelled wake forest university become one first private schools south integrate student body began student organizer glenn blackburn says baptist student union members formed african student program plan integrate wake forest embarrassing school admitting person color mission field called baptists accept universitys motto pro humanitate humanity taking responsibility educating would evangelize using baptist network wake forest religion professors asked missionaries recommend africans willing seek admission school response missionary harris mobley found ed reynolds presbyterian student ghana reynolds agreed come wake forest african student program raised funds trip trustee resistance continued forcing reynolds two years shaw university predominately africanamerican school raleigh ultimately trustees acquiesced reynolds admitted fall 1962 along africanamerican female day student black women admitted campus residency several years student body divided issue 742 voting integration 644 voting integrationists deterred reynolds recently retired professor university california san diego today resists suggestions special act bravery yet also acknowledges growing christian taught live life courageously 70 reynolds still speaks sense determination regarding entry wake forest 50 years ago expressing gratitude people responded educationally communally university chaplain ed christman consistent advocate reynolds helping secure scholarship financial aid linking students committed cause religion professor g macloud bryan major proponent integration university engaged similar efforts teaching mercer university missionary mobley helped another ghanaian sam oni become first black student admitted georgia baptist school 1963 ed reynolds speaks glowingly bryans contribution life stretched thinking reynolds recalls encouraging students research ethical issues race war homosexuality turbulent 1960s j allen easley chair religion department also supported university integration insisting someone authority needed take leadership cause reynolds retains books easley gave retired wake forest affirmations came various ways new testament professor dan via reynolds says took j c pennys bought suit students invited holidays often first black person share meals homes integration took many forms half century ago group progressive baptist students faculty helped integrate wake forest university admitting africanamerican proved difficult integrationists succeeded bringing african student body confronted baptists theology challenging consciences educate sought evangelize witness worth celebrating even university still long way go winston salem journal reports currently 75 percent student body africanamerican 26 percent students years entering class represent racial minorities year wake forest welcomed largest contingent chinese students many recruited work dr linda mckinnish bridges associate dean admissions bridges ordained baptist minister learned speak mandarin southern baptist missionary taiwan years ago ironically many baptist churches south still would recognize bridges ordination baptistfacilitated linguistic ability gift bearing fruit wake forest lane seminary rebels would pleased year student government president wake forest gay africanamerican universities faith communities individuals pro humanitate remains dangerous restless motto
| 550 |
<p>You've heard of actors and writers in Hollywood who say they really want to direct. Now meet a director who really wants to write.</p>
<p>Haifaa Al Mansour is the author of the just-published young adult novel " <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Green-Bicycle-Haifaa-Mansour/dp/0525428062" type="external">The Green Bicycle.</a>" It was inspired by a film she directed, called "Wadjda."</p>
<p>Mansour hopes the book will in turn inspire young girls across the globe.</p>
<p>"I wanted to create this character who lives in a harsh world, but believes in herself and tries to reach her dreams regardless," she says. "For me, I think young adults need those kind of superheroes."</p>
<p>She created the character, Wadjda, an 11-year-old girl who wants to buy a bicycle. How she goes about making this happen is magic.</p>
<p>Below is an excerpt from " <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Green-Bicycle-Haifaa-Mansour/dp/0525428062" type="external">The Green Bicycle</a>."</p>
<p></p>
<p>CHAPTER TWO</p>
<p>The warm smell of cardamom and saffron teased Wadjda awake. Traditional blond Saudi coffee was boiling in the kitchen, and she could hear the soft sounds of her mother moving from room to room, preparing for the day ahead.</p>
<p>Wadjda loved the familiarity of their house. It was old and cozy, the place where she’d been born. She couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Of course, it wasn’t perfect. The walls were so thin that the slightest noise echoed through the whole space. The electricity went out now and then, sometimes because her mother didn’t pay the bill, but mostly because a fuse blew or a switch broke. Over time, Wadjda had learned to fix these things. Between the constant repairs and the monthly mortgage, her mother was always complaining about the house being a money pit. But while their home had its issues, it was Wadjda’s safe spot, the only place where she and her mother could be themselves, relaxed and happy and tucked away from the world outside. 
 it was barely five in the morning. Despite the early hour,</p>
<p>Wadjda was already in her gray school uniform, tugging a brush through her hair. She liked to get up early, before her mother set out on the long journey to the remote school where she taught. She liked being there for her mother, liked to take care of her and make sure things were all right. Getting up at the same time was a silent act of support.</p>
<p>With the flick of a switch, Wadjda turned on the radio. Her radio. She smiled and brushed her fingers across its metal sides. This was the thing in her small room that she loved most. Music moved her, lifted her. As she straightened the sheets on her bed and threw her slippers underneath, she rocked her hips and shook her shoulders in time with the beat. It was going to be a fun day, and Wadjda was ready for it to begin.</p>
<p>It was going to be hot, too. Already, the sun was burning through the small window above her desk. Wadjda had covered the window with wallpaper, but even that thick sheet failed to block the intense desert heat. Climbing onto her desk chair, Wadjda added a few pictures to the collage she’d started on top of the wallpaper, using images cut from magazines. Her father brought them back from the oil company on the east coast where he worked.</p>
<p>Scrambling down, Wadjda flipped through one of those magazines now, looking for pictures of girls her age. They smiled out at her from the glossy pages: two girls on skateboards hovering at the top of a jump; a girl strumming a guitar; a group of kids sitting on the beach, boys and girls together, arms slung around one another’s shoulders. The heat burned against Wadjda’s fingers as she climbed up again, pressing these new pictures onto the wallpaper. Her collage was her checklist, a reminder of all the things she would do as soon as she got the chance.</p>
<p>On the radio, the DJ introduced the next song. Wadjda dashed to her tape deck and hit record as the new single from Grouplove began. She wasn’t sure what the DJ had been saying about the song, or what the band was singing about—her English couldn’t quite keep up with the fast pace of the lyrics. But she loved the feeling the song gave her. Flinging out her arms, Wadjda spun in a circle, closed her eyes, and let the beat move her. She knew the song was good. The DJs had played it more than a dozen times in the last few days. Only a hit would get so much attention.</p>
<p>Wadjda prided herself on her taste in music. Nine times out of ten, the songs she picked to record went on to become hits. And as much as she loved music, she loved sharing it even more. The mixtapes she made sold for real money at school—five Riyals each. And this latest mix was so good that her classmates would probably buy it even if she charged a lot more!</p>
<p>The thought of selling the tape made Wadjda pause in her dance. Better be safe. Quickly, she clambered up onto the bed and ran her fingers along the length of cord she’d strung in through the window, making sure it connected properly to the back of the radio. The cord led to the roof, and from there to the makeshift antenna Wadjda had rigged up to capture songs from stations all over the world.</p>
<p>She’d found the antenna discarded next to a garbage bin on one of her rambling walks home from school. Who still uses these? Wadjda had thought, squatting in the dirt. I bet it’s someone old, because there’s a satellite dish on every roof in Riyadh!</p>
<p>Not till later, when she was sitting in their satellite dish- less house, straining to make out the song buzzing through her radio’s fuzzy speakers, did Wadjda realize the antenna was perfect—for her. But what if she’d missed her chance? In Riyadh, if you didn’t take something when you saw it, it was usually gone by the time you went back.</p>
<p>Still, she had to try. The next day, she erupted out of school the minute she was dismissed and raced through the streets, her heart thudding against her chest. Magically, the antenna was still there. Waiting for her like a gift.</p>
<p>Dragging it all the way to the roof took hours of panting, sweaty work. But it was worth it. The antenna was Wadjda’s tunnel to a faraway world. The music it carried into her room created a private space, a place far from the shrieky Turkish soap operas her mother adored, from the gloomy news reported daily on TV. Wadjda’s radio played music made especially for her.</p>
<p>Turning over the English name of the song she was re- cording in her mind, Wadjda carefully wrote down her own version of its title, translating it phonetically into Arabic. The full track list was labeled wadjda’s awesome mixtape, vol. 7. Next to the growing stack of cassettes, she counted out handmade bracelets. Jewelry brought in decent money from kids who didn’t like music. And just in case, Wadjda specialized in everybody’s favorite treats— candy and chips—which always sold out. The school strictly forbade leaving the grounds during the day, so it was impossible to sneak away and get snacks during lunch. Wadjda had the market cornered.</p>
<p>Her mother hated the idea of Wadjda selling things to her classmates. “Like a common beggar,” she’d say, shaking her head. But she didn’t seem to mind the extra money when they needed things around the house. Over time, they’d come to an understanding: It was all right as long as they didn’t talk about it—and as long as Wadjda didn’t get caught.</p>
<p>Today, if she sold all the bracelets and tapes, and maybe a few bags of candy and chips, she could easily clear fifty Riyals. More than enough for a large pizza and two Cokes on Thursday night, when she and her mother always ordered dinner in. Wadjda smiled, pleased, and searched the floor for her high-tops. The song was nearing its end. Bobbing her head in time, she looked through the half- open door of her room and saw her mother, drying her hair in the living room.</p>
<p>Wadjda thought her mother was the most beautiful woman on earth. Her silky hair fell to her slim waist like a black river. It was so thick that it was hard for Wadjda’s mother to control it all under her abayah and burka. She had to buy a special cap to keep it from falling out of her veil in public. Thick lashes framed her wide, dark eyes. When she outlined them with black lines of kohl, she looked almost cartoonishly glamorous, like a star from a Bollywood film. She should be in a movie, Wadjda thought.</p>
<p>Of course, her mother would never allow herself such a dream. It wasn’t proper. Still, there was something impossibly elegant in her movements, even as she struggled to do simple tasks, like attach a broken brush accessory to the top of her hair dryer. A smile stole across Wadjda’s face as she listened to her mother curse under her breath. Finally, her mother tossed aside the broken part and dried the rest of her hair without it.</p>
<p>But Wadjda was wasting time. The clock read 5:30 a.m. Time to go. She jumped up and left her room—but seconds later she was back by the radio, shifting from foot to foot, drumming her fingers against the dial as she waited for the song to end. At last, she hit stop on the recorder and dashed out, hoping her mother wouldn’t curse her for making them late, yet again.</p>
<p>Today, though, her mother was also rushing, twisting her hair quickly around her fingers and adding little colored clips to hold it in place. Wadjda waited near the door, underneath a gold-framed picture of her father. The picture had been taken on her parents’ wedding day. Her father practically glimmered, his crisp white thobe and checked ghutra complemented by the beautiful brown bisht, or traditional cloak, draped over his shoulders.</p>
<p>Had the bisht been more expensive than her mother’s simple wedding dress? Wadjda had seen her mother’s gown in the closet, had even run her fingers gently across the white silk, but she didn’t know if there were any pictures of her mother wearing it. She couldn’t remember ever seeing one around the house.</p>
<p>Following her daughter’s eyes, her mother glanced at the picture, too. At the sight of her husband, she suddenly looked so tired. Wadjda frowned, feeling the familiar twist in her stomach. Something troubling was happening be- tween her parents, but she didn’t like to think about it. Thinking about it made it real.</p>
<p>Now her mother looked away, sighing. She’d almost finished her hair. Each strand was locked into place, creating a strange mixture of curls and bows. Only my mother could pull off a look like that, Wadjda thought. On her, it was beautiful.</p>
<p>“Turn off the stove before the coffee boils over,” she called. Wadjda ran to the kitchen and twisted the knob, letting the gas sputter out. The sandwich her mother had made her waited on the counter—Wadjda’s favorite, a delicious mix of melted cheeses rolled tight in white Arabic bread. Her mother had made her kerk chai, too, tea and warm milk. Smiling, Wadjda breathed in the rich smells of cardamom and saffron.</p>
<p>Her mother ran into the kitchen and tended to her coffee, adding a few scoops of cardamom and a pinch of saffron. Smiling down at Wadjda, she said gently, “Lots of caffeine in there. Hopefully it’ll keep you going—at least through morning period.”</p>
<p>Wadjda nodded. Recently, she’d heard one of her teachers say that caffeine was bad for kids. In Riyadh, though, people didn’t give habits up easily—not even bad ones. For as long as she could remember, Wadjda had been drinking tea and coffee. She liked the little kick she got from kerk chai. These days, she needed it to get through her endless boring classes. And her cousins and friends drank it, too, so surely it couldn’t be that bad.</p>
<p>Outside, a car horn honked. With a jolt, Wadjda and her mother whirled toward the door. Wadjda’s mother moved too fast, though, and splashed boiling coffee across her hand, scalding her pale skin. Sighing in frustration and pain, she wrapped the wound with a wet towel.</p>
<p>“I guess he’s already here,” Wadjda said, rolling her eyes.</p>
<p>Her mother spoke without looking up from her burned hand.</p>
<p>“Well, he can just wait. I’m doing everything I can to be ready on time.”</p>
<p>But there was worry hidden in her tone. And when she moved, she moved. Her mother poured the coffee into a thermos, grabbed her notebooks, donned her abayah and burka, and made for the door, all in a rush. Wadjda hurried along behind, carrying the rest of her mother’s sup- plies in a jumbled heap in her arms.</p>
<p>At the door, Wadjda’s mother paused to tug the keys from their hook, knocking a string of blue prayer beads to the floor as she did so. These were Wadjda’s father’s. He always had the beads dangling from his hands, and he’d roll them over his index finger with his thumb when he talked. Sometimes he even swung them around an extended finger as he paced the house, letting the long blue string slap rhythmically against the fabric of his white thobe.</p>
<p>Wadjda’s mother picked them up and put them back in place. For a moment, she covered them with her palm, letting her hand rest tenderly against the beads, the way she touched Wadjda’s cheek before bed. Then she turned to Wadjda and pulled her veil over her face, businesslike once more.</p>
<p>“Don’t forget your key, and don’t lock the upper lock. Your father may be coming home after his night shift.” Her tone was the one she reserved for the times that Wadjda came home late or didn’t finish her homework—so not really that often, Wadjda thought. Not a regular occurrence. Well, not a tone she’d heard for a few days, at least.</p>
<p>As they exited through the front gate, Wadjda frowned, twisting her lips and setting her jaw like a superhero face- to-face with her archnemesis. Before them stood Iqbal, her mother’s Pakistani driver-for-hire. He was in front of his old van, plastering a broken headlight on with duct tape. When he saw Wadjda, he matched her glare with a deadly evil eye. But then he saw her mother, and he began to act showily exasperated.</p>
<p>“It very long way, Madame!” He yelled at her in bossy, broken Arabic. “Other teachers we are taking, very long way. You late every day! No taking you late!”</p>
<p>Rolling her eyes at the familiar show, Wadjda put her hands on her hips and squared her shoulders. Iqbal towered over her, but she did not yield.</p>
<p>“She no late! You just came! I see you—five minutes not even!” She used the same broken Arabic for emphasis.</p>
<p>“I no talk to you, little girl. I talk to your mother. She is late!”</p>
<p>Without letting Wadjda or her mother reply, Iqbal got into the car and slammed the door. A picture of a smiling child in shalwar kameez, the traditional tunic and trousers worn in Pakistan, fell to the floor. Iqbal picked it up and cleaned it tenderly before putting it back on the dash- board. Time seemed to pause; he stared into the eyes of the little girl in the picture, looking as if his mind and heart were very far away.</p>
<p>Then he looked up and found himself back in Saudi Arabia, staring right into Wadjda’s face, which was pressed up against the glass. Leaning back, Wadjda stuck her tongue out, just to make sure Iqbal knew who he was dealing with. He honked again, waving his hands at her with ever more exaggerated impatience.</p>
<p>“Don’t worry about him,” her mother said from beneath her face covering. “Okay, yalla, bye!” She took her things from Wadjda, ruffling her daughter’s hair as she stepped into the car. Wadjda heard her parting words faintly: “There’s no problem, Iqbal. You take lots of money, so let’s have some quiet for the long drive.”</p>
<p>The minivan bumped away in a cloud of dust and clanking of engine parts. As Wadjda was about to go back into the house, she saw the minivan swerve wildly to avoid an oncoming car. In its recovery, it almost crashed into the garden wall of a nearby house. Wadjda flung her arms wide in dismay. What was Iqbal doing? Nervous, she watched the battered car disappear around the corner, the familiar fear that Iqbal would drive her mother straight off a cliff somewhere tickling its way into her mind.</p>
<p>In the living room, Wadjda rushed to grab her back- pack. But catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she stopped and looked hard at her reflection. Slowly, she lifted her hair, wrapping it around her hand and piling it loosely on her head. Could she ever look as effortlessly elegant as her mother? If Wadjda pinned her curls and tilted her chin slightly to the left, catching just the right light, could she be as beautiful?</p>
<p>Sunbeams flickered across her face and reflected off the glass. Sighing, Wadjda put on her abayah, turning away from the girl in the mirror.</p>
<p>Outside, bright sunlight beat down on the rows of concrete houses lining the streets. A tall wall fronted each home, and a thick layer of dust coated everything: the trees, the trash heaped in the gutters, even the cracked gray sidewalks. In Wadjda’s neighborhood, it was difficult to tell one thing from another. Beneath its blanket of dust, the street seemed boring and lifeless, a giant beige blur stretching endlessly into the distance. Aluminum foil or tightly drawn curtains covered the windows, offering the people inside protection from the sun—and from the curious eyes of the outside world.</p>
<p>Here and there, groups of girls walked to school, their bodies completely covered with black abayahs and veils. Only different backpacks or eyeglasses distinguished one from another. Taxis and minivans passed by with a roar, leaving dust clouds hanging in the air behind them. Women were not allowed to drive in Saudi, so each car was packed with female passengers, all pressed tightly together, all dressed in black. Clusters of foreign-looking men, mostly Indian and Pakistani, moved toward their places of work. They had on worn, faded clothes, most of which looked as if they’d been beaten with a dusty broom in place of cleaning. The women instinctively kept their distance from the men, moving to the other side of the street or waiting for them to pass so they could avoid any accidental contact.</p>
<p>She couldn’t wait any longer. With a sigh, Wadjda turned toward school—and flinched, her body jerking back as, crash! A rock skipped past her, knocking against a discarded soda can and sending it clanking away across the sidewalk.</p>
<p>Startled, Wadjda looked up to see her father, smiling and tossing another rock up into the air. Her heart swelled. From the accuracy of the throw, she’d known it was him even before she turned around. Her father was always showing her how to skip stones, and there were endless targets on Riyadh’s trash-ridden streets. Discarded cans and fast-food wrappers seemed to fill the sidewalks as soon as the street sweepers passed through, the new garbage easily taking the place of whatever trash had been re- moved.</p>
<p>Wadjda’s father ran his hand through his short black hair and drew his fingers across his neat mustache. Wadjda could almost feel its soft tickle against her cheek. She liked how his uniform from the oil rig had faded, turning a cool, sun-bleached gray. When he’d left home, it had been bright blue and ugly. It looked much tougher after a little wear and tear. Like my sneakers, she thought.</p>
<p>“Watch this!” her father called, and flung a rock toward a jumbo-sized fast-food cup, which someone had left on the wall behind Wadjda. Even as she ducked, Wadjda saw the cup fly from its place, lid and straw exploding in opposite directions. Impressed, she grabbed a stone from the dusty road, hefting it in her palm, feeling its weight.</p>
<p>“Oh yeah? Check this out!” She searched for her target, chest puffed out bravely, and zeroed in on a dusty milk carton lying a few meters away. Though she gave it her best shot, the rock fell short. In silence, Wadjda and her father watched it tumble to a stop near her father’s foot.</p>
<p>“Close, my girl! Keep practicing. You’re getting there.”</p>
<p>Wadjda couldn’t wait any longer. She ran over and hugged him. “Where have you been, Abooie?” she blurted, wrapping her arms around his chest and squeezing tight.</p>
<p>Her father didn’t answer. He just held her out in front of him, smiling. “Look at this,” he said at last, pulling a shiny black rock from his pocket. “It’s volcanic, from the Empty Quarter. It’ll fly straight and fast—think how that will help your aim! Now, you have school, yes? Better get going.”</p>
<p>Wadjda took the rock from his hand, beaming. He patted her on the head. They stood side by side for a moment as Wadjda rolled the glossy stone in her hand. She didn’t want to leave, not yet. She wondered about her father’s lonely life on the rigs, out in the middle of nowhere. In her mind’s eye she saw him pacing the Empty Quarter, imagined a glint of light on a stone catching his eye. She thought about him picking up the shiny black rock, holding it in his hand, and thinking of her. His daughter.</p>
<p>With a surge of glee, she tossed her new prize up high once, then again. On the third throw, she snatched it from the air and started off toward school, running fast, her shoes slapping exuberantly against the sidewalk.</p>
<p>“We left the door unlocked. Ummi’s been waiting for you all week!” she called over her shoulder.</p>
<p>Her father’s eyes flickered at the mention of her mother. Once more, he passed his hand over his hair. Then he patted the dust off his overalls and moved toward the front gate of the house.</p>
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youve heard actors writers hollywood say really want direct meet director really wants write haifaa al mansour author justpublished young adult novel green bicycle inspired film directed called wadjda mansour hopes book turn inspire young girls across globe wanted create character lives harsh world believes tries reach dreams regardless says think young adults need kind superheroes created character wadjda 11yearold girl wants buy bicycle goes making happen magic excerpt green bicycle chapter two warm smell cardamom saffron teased wadjda awake traditional blond saudi coffee boiling kitchen could hear soft sounds mother moving room room preparing day ahead wadjda loved familiarity house old cozy place shed born couldnt imagine living anywhere else course wasnt perfect walls thin slightest noise echoed whole space electricity went sometimes mother didnt pay bill mostly fuse blew switch broke time wadjda learned fix things constant repairs monthly mortgage mother always complaining house money pit home issues wadjdas safe spot place mother could relaxed happy tucked away world outside barely five morning despite early hour wadjda already gray school uniform tugging brush hair liked get early mother set long journey remote school taught liked mother liked take care make sure things right getting time silent act support flick switch wadjda turned radio radio smiled brushed fingers across metal sides thing small room loved music moved lifted straightened sheets bed threw slippers underneath rocked hips shook shoulders time beat going fun day wadjda ready begin going hot already sun burning small window desk wadjda covered window wallpaper even thick sheet failed block intense desert heat climbing onto desk chair wadjda added pictures collage shed started top wallpaper using images cut magazines father brought back oil company east coast worked scrambling wadjda flipped one magazines looking pictures girls age smiled glossy pages two girls skateboards hovering top jump girl strumming guitar group kids sitting beach boys girls together arms slung around one anothers shoulders heat burned wadjdas fingers climbed pressing new pictures onto wallpaper collage checklist reminder things would soon got chance radio dj introduced next song wadjda dashed tape deck hit record new single grouplove began wasnt sure dj saying song band singing abouther english couldnt quite keep fast pace lyrics loved feeling song gave flinging arms wadjda spun circle closed eyes let beat move knew song good djs played dozen times last days hit would get much attention wadjda prided taste music nine times ten songs picked record went become hits much loved music loved sharing even mixtapes made sold real money schoolfive riyals latest mix good classmates would probably buy even charged lot thought selling tape made wadjda pause dance better safe quickly clambered onto bed ran fingers along length cord shed strung window making sure connected properly back radio cord led roof makeshift antenna wadjda rigged capture songs stations world shed found antenna discarded next garbage bin one rambling walks home school still uses wadjda thought squatting dirt bet someone old theres satellite dish every roof riyadh till later sitting satellite dish less house straining make song buzzing radios fuzzy speakers wadjda realize antenna perfectfor shed missed chance riyadh didnt take something saw usually gone time went back still try next day erupted school minute dismissed raced streets heart thudding chest magically antenna still waiting like gift dragging way roof took hours panting sweaty work worth antenna wadjdas tunnel faraway world music carried room created private space place far shrieky turkish soap operas mother adored gloomy news reported daily tv wadjdas radio played music made especially turning english name song cording mind wadjda carefully wrote version title translating phonetically arabic full track list labeled wadjdas awesome mixtape vol 7 next growing stack cassettes counted handmade bracelets jewelry brought decent money kids didnt like music case wadjda specialized everybodys favorite treats candy chipswhich always sold school strictly forbade leaving grounds day impossible sneak away get snacks lunch wadjda market cornered mother hated idea wadjda selling things classmates like common beggar shed say shaking head didnt seem mind extra money needed things around house time theyd come understanding right long didnt talk itand long wadjda didnt get caught today sold bracelets tapes maybe bags candy chips could easily clear fifty riyals enough large pizza two cokes thursday night mother always ordered dinner wadjda smiled pleased searched floor hightops song nearing end bobbing head time looked half open door room saw mother drying hair living room wadjda thought mother beautiful woman earth silky hair fell slim waist like black river thick hard wadjdas mother control abayah burka buy special cap keep falling veil public thick lashes framed wide dark eyes outlined black lines kohl looked almost cartoonishly glamorous like star bollywood film movie wadjda thought course mother would never allow dream wasnt proper still something impossibly elegant movements even struggled simple tasks like attach broken brush accessory top hair dryer smile stole across wadjdas face listened mother curse breath finally mother tossed aside broken part dried rest hair without wadjda wasting time clock read 530 time go jumped left roombut seconds later back radio shifting foot foot drumming fingers dial waited song end last hit stop recorder dashed hoping mother wouldnt curse making late yet today though mother also rushing twisting hair quickly around fingers adding little colored clips hold place wadjda waited near door underneath goldframed picture father picture taken parents wedding day father practically glimmered crisp white thobe checked ghutra complemented beautiful brown bisht traditional cloak draped shoulders bisht expensive mothers simple wedding dress wadjda seen mothers gown closet even run fingers gently across white silk didnt know pictures mother wearing couldnt remember ever seeing one around house following daughters eyes mother glanced picture sight husband suddenly looked tired wadjda frowned feeling familiar twist stomach something troubling happening tween parents didnt like think thinking made real mother looked away sighing shed almost finished hair strand locked place creating strange mixture curls bows mother could pull look like wadjda thought beautiful turn stove coffee boils called wadjda ran kitchen twisted knob letting gas sputter sandwich mother made waited counterwadjdas favorite delicious mix melted cheeses rolled tight white arabic bread mother made kerk chai tea warm milk smiling wadjda breathed rich smells cardamom saffron mother ran kitchen tended coffee adding scoops cardamom pinch saffron smiling wadjda said gently lots caffeine hopefully itll keep goingat least morning period wadjda nodded recently shed heard one teachers say caffeine bad kids riyadh though people didnt give habits easilynot even bad ones long could remember wadjda drinking tea coffee liked little kick got kerk chai days needed get endless boring classes cousins friends drank surely couldnt bad outside car horn honked jolt wadjda mother whirled toward door wadjdas mother moved fast though splashed boiling coffee across hand scalding pale skin sighing frustration pain wrapped wound wet towel guess hes already wadjda said rolling eyes mother spoke without looking burned hand well wait im everything ready time worry hidden tone moved moved mother poured coffee thermos grabbed notebooks donned abayah burka made door rush wadjda hurried along behind carrying rest mothers sup plies jumbled heap arms door wadjdas mother paused tug keys hook knocking string blue prayer beads floor wadjdas fathers always beads dangling hands hed roll index finger thumb talked sometimes even swung around extended finger paced house letting long blue string slap rhythmically fabric white thobe wadjdas mother picked put back place moment covered palm letting hand rest tenderly beads way touched wadjdas cheek bed turned wadjda pulled veil face businesslike dont forget key dont lock upper lock father may coming home night shift tone one reserved times wadjda came home late didnt finish homeworkso really often wadjda thought regular occurrence well tone shed heard days least exited front gate wadjda frowned twisting lips setting jaw like superhero face toface archnemesis stood iqbal mothers pakistani driverforhire front old van plastering broken headlight duct tape saw wadjda matched glare deadly evil eye saw mother began act showily exasperated long way madame yelled bossy broken arabic teachers taking long way late every day taking late rolling eyes familiar show wadjda put hands hips squared shoulders iqbal towered yield late came see youfive minutes even used broken arabic emphasis talk little girl talk mother late without letting wadjda mother reply iqbal got car slammed door picture smiling child shalwar kameez traditional tunic trousers worn pakistan fell floor iqbal picked cleaned tenderly putting back dash board time seemed pause stared eyes little girl picture looking mind heart far away looked found back saudi arabia staring right wadjdas face pressed glass leaning back wadjda stuck tongue make sure iqbal knew dealing honked waving hands ever exaggerated impatience dont worry mother said beneath face covering okay yalla bye took things wadjda ruffling daughters hair stepped car wadjda heard parting words faintly theres problem iqbal take lots money lets quiet long drive minivan bumped away cloud dust clanking engine parts wadjda go back house saw minivan swerve wildly avoid oncoming car recovery almost crashed garden wall nearby house wadjda flung arms wide dismay iqbal nervous watched battered car disappear around corner familiar fear iqbal would drive mother straight cliff somewhere tickling way mind living room wadjda rushed grab back pack catching glimpse mirror stopped looked hard reflection slowly lifted hair wrapping around hand piling loosely head could ever look effortlessly elegant mother wadjda pinned curls tilted chin slightly left catching right light could beautiful sunbeams flickered across face reflected glass sighing wadjda put abayah turning away girl mirror outside bright sunlight beat rows concrete houses lining streets tall wall fronted home thick layer dust coated everything trees trash heaped gutters even cracked gray sidewalks wadjdas neighborhood difficult tell one thing another beneath blanket dust street seemed boring lifeless giant beige blur stretching endlessly distance aluminum foil tightly drawn curtains covered windows offering people inside protection sunand curious eyes outside world groups girls walked school bodies completely covered black abayahs veils different backpacks eyeglasses distinguished one another taxis minivans passed roar leaving dust clouds hanging air behind women allowed drive saudi car packed female passengers pressed tightly together dressed black clusters foreignlooking men mostly indian pakistani moved toward places work worn faded clothes looked theyd beaten dusty broom place cleaning women instinctively kept distance men moving side street waiting pass could avoid accidental contact couldnt wait longer sigh wadjda turned toward schooland flinched body jerking back crash rock skipped past knocking discarded soda sending clanking away across sidewalk startled wadjda looked see father smiling tossing another rock air heart swelled accuracy throw shed known even turned around father always showing skip stones endless targets riyadhs trashridden streets discarded cans fastfood wrappers seemed fill sidewalks soon street sweepers passed new garbage easily taking place whatever trash moved wadjdas father ran hand short black hair drew fingers across neat mustache wadjda could almost feel soft tickle cheek liked uniform oil rig faded turning cool sunbleached gray hed left home bright blue ugly looked much tougher little wear tear like sneakers thought watch father called flung rock toward jumbosized fastfood cup someone left wall behind wadjda even ducked wadjda saw cup fly place lid straw exploding opposite directions impressed grabbed stone dusty road hefting palm feeling weight oh yeah check searched target chest puffed bravely zeroed dusty milk carton lying meters away though gave best shot rock fell short silence wadjda father watched tumble stop near fathers foot close girl keep practicing youre getting wadjda couldnt wait longer ran hugged abooie blurted wrapping arms around chest squeezing tight father didnt answer held front smiling look said last pulling shiny black rock pocket volcanic empty quarter itll fly straight fastthink help aim school yes better get going wadjda took rock hand beaming patted head stood side side moment wadjda rolled glossy stone hand didnt want leave yet wondered fathers lonely life rigs middle nowhere minds eye saw pacing empty quarter imagined glint light stone catching eye thought picking shiny black rock holding hand thinking daughter surge glee tossed new prize high third throw snatched air started toward school running fast shoes slapping exuberantly sidewalk left door unlocked ummis waiting week called shoulder fathers eyes flickered mention mother passed hand hair patted dust overalls moved toward front gate house
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<p>Former President Bill Clinton speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 26. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>PHILADELPHIA — The second night of the Democratic National Convention proved historic as delegates made Hillary Clinton the first woman presidential nominee of a major U.S. political party.</p>
<p>Delivering the keynote address was former President Bill Clinton. Essentially auditioning for the role of first gentleman, he recalled meeting Hillary Clinton and the early years of their marriage, followed by her work seeking to improve the United States as a lawyer, first lady, a U.S. senator and secretary of state.</p>
<p>“When I was president, I worked hard to give you more peace and shared prosperity, to give you an America where nobody is invisible or counted out,” Bill Clinton said. “But for this time, Hillary is uniquely qualified to seize the opportunities and reduce the risks we face. And she is still the best darn change-maker I have ever known.”</p>
<p>At one point when the teleprompter stopped moving, Bill Clinton ad-libbed, “She’s been around a long time, she sure has, and she’s sure been worth every single year she’s put into making people’s lives better.”</p>
<p>Enumerating Hillary Clinton’s achievements as secretary of state, Bill Clinton recalled the 2011 speech in Geneva in which she pledged to make LGBT human rights part of U.S. foreign policy and declared, “Gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights.”</p>
<p>“And as she had been doing since she went to Beijing in 1995 and said women’s rights are human rights and human rights are women’s rights she worked to empower women and girls around the world and to make the same exact declaration on behalf of the LGBT community in America and around the world,” Bill Clinton said.</p>
<p>Joey Wasserman, a New York-based gay rights advocate who attended&#160;the convention, said the speech Bill Clinton delivered was “amazing” because it showed the breadth of Hillary Clinton’s character.</p>
<p>“It was very unifying,” Wasserman said. “It was going to the heart of who Hillary is as a person, as a mother, as a leader — both in foreign affairs and domestic policy.”</p>
<p>Among the other convention speakers was former Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean, who warned electing Donald Trump instead of Hillary Clinton would roll back advances in national health care, including the Affordable Care Act.</p>
<p>Lampooning the “Dean Scream” credited with bringing down his 2004 presidential campaign, Dean concluded with a battle cry along the same lines.</p>
<p>“Help make history and volunteer because this race is going to be won on the ground, and it’s going to be won in Colorado, and in Iowa, and North Carolina, and Michigan, and Florida, and Pennsylvania, and then we’re going to the White House,” Dean said.</p>
<p>Debra Messing, star of NBC’s “Will &amp; Grace,” was among the celebrities who appeared on stage to endorse Clinton, promoting the candidate’s&#160;work in securing&#160;federal funds to rebuild New York City after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.</p>
<p>“Nothing could divide us on that day, and indeed our shared humanity was all that mattered,” Messing said. “Christian, Jewish, or Muslim, black, white, Asian or Latino, gay, bi, trans or straight, we are one people.”</p>
<p>Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who signed executive orders implementing marriage equality and barring anti-LGBT discrimination among state workers, cited efforts to advance LGBT rights in his state.</p>
<p>“We have fought Republican efforts to discriminate against LGBT Virginians, and we have stood up for a woman’s right to choose,” McAuliffe said. “And we are overcoming obstacles to deny hundreds of thousands of former felons the right to vote because history tells us that enemies of progress can slow the march toward justice and equality, but they cannot stop it.”</p>
<p>On the same day, delegates at the convention anointed Hillary Clinton as the Democratic presidential nominee following a roll-call vote among the delegations from all the states and jurisdictions.</p>
<p>The roll-call vote was officially the final act as a presidential candidate for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who when Vermont was called sought a suspension of the rules to designate Clinton as the Democratic presidential nominee. His words echoed Clinton’s in 2008, when after she lost the primary to Barack&#160;Obama she called on delegates to vote for him on the floor.</p>
<p>At least four LGBT speakers represented their states during the roll call. Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the marriage lawsuit that won marriage equality before the U.S. Supreme Court, spoke on behalf of his home state of Ohio.</p>
<p>“I’m proud to be here with my fellow Buckeyes from the great state of Ohio,” Obergefell said. “This Ohio boy helped love win last summer, and this Ohio boy and my fellow Ohioans know this: Love trumps hate.”</p>
<p>U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), the only out lesbian in Congress, spoke on behalf of Wisconsin when her state came up during the roll call vote.</p>
<p>“Wisconsin is a state where workers still make things from ships, tools and paper, to cheese, brats and beer,” Baldwin said. “We are home to the Bucks, the Brewers and America’s team, the Green Bay Packers and we are home to future Senator Russ Feingold.”</p>
<p>Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)</p>
<p>Raymond Buckley, chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, and Rick Palacio, chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, are both gay and represented their states during the roll-call vote.</p>
<p>The speaker representing the Massachusetts delegation recognized his state, among other things, for being the “first state in the nation to pass equal marriage rights,” and the speaker representing North Carolina pledged to “elect Roy Cooper&#160;and repeal HB2,” the recently enacted anti-trans law signed by Gov. Pat McCrory.</p>
<p>For Democrats Abroad, the speaker delivering the portion of the vote to Sanders was his brother, Larry Sanders, who&#160;said he was “immensely proud” to deliver support to the Vermont senator. Video coverage of Bernie Sanders as his brother spoke revealed the candidate becoming&#160;emotional.</p>
<p>But the failure of Sanders to claim the nomination after the roll call vote angered some&#160;in the “Bernie or Bust” crowd. They&#160;were seen bolting from the Wells Fargo Center in indignation. Sanders supporters stormed into the media tent near the convention site and held a sit-in protest over the result.</p>
<p>Mia Satya, a delegate pledged to Sanders from San Francisco and one of 28 openly trans delegates at the convention, fumed over Clinton’s treatment of the LGBT community immediately after the roll-call vote when asked by the Washington Blade an unrelated question about Donald Trump.</p>
<p>“I think that Hillary Clinton will do a lot to undermine LGBT rights globally by continuing to bomb other countries in which LGBT people live, including our trans sisters, brothers and siblings in countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran,” Satya said.</p>
<p>Asked by the Blade whether Trump would be worse for LGBT people than Clinton, Satya replied, “We’re in the Democratic National Convention not the RNC, so I’m talking about the DNC.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Bill Clinton</a> <a href="" type="internal">Debra Messing</a> <a href="" type="internal">Democratic National Convention</a> <a href="" type="internal">Joey Wasserman</a> <a href="" type="internal">Larry Sanders</a> <a href="" type="internal">Mia Satya</a> <a href="" type="internal">Terry McAuliffe</a></p>
| false | 3 |
former president bill clinton speaks democratic national convention philadelphia july 26 washington blade photo michael key philadelphia second night democratic national convention proved historic delegates made hillary clinton first woman presidential nominee major us political party delivering keynote address former president bill clinton essentially auditioning role first gentleman recalled meeting hillary clinton early years marriage followed work seeking improve united states lawyer first lady us senator secretary state president worked hard give peace shared prosperity give america nobody invisible counted bill clinton said time hillary uniquely qualified seize opportunities reduce risks face still best darn changemaker ever known one point teleprompter stopped moving bill clinton adlibbed shes around long time sure shes sure worth every single year shes put making peoples lives better enumerating hillary clintons achievements secretary state bill clinton recalled 2011 speech geneva pledged make lgbt human rights part us foreign policy declared gay rights human rights human rights gay rights since went beijing 1995 said womens rights human rights human rights womens rights worked empower women girls around world make exact declaration behalf lgbt community america around world bill clinton said joey wasserman new yorkbased gay rights advocate attended160the convention said speech bill clinton delivered amazing showed breadth hillary clintons character unifying wasserman said going heart hillary person mother leader foreign affairs domestic policy among convention speakers former democratic national committee chair howard dean warned electing donald trump instead hillary clinton would roll back advances national health care including affordable care act lampooning dean scream credited bringing 2004 presidential campaign dean concluded battle cry along lines help make history volunteer race going ground going colorado iowa north carolina michigan florida pennsylvania going white house dean said debra messing star nbcs amp grace among celebrities appeared stage endorse clinton promoting candidates160work securing160federal funds rebuild new york city terrorist attacks sept 11 2001 nothing could divide us day indeed shared humanity mattered messing said christian jewish muslim black white asian latino gay bi trans straight one people virginia gov terry mcauliffe signed executive orders implementing marriage equality barring antilgbt discrimination among state workers cited efforts advance lgbt rights state fought republican efforts discriminate lgbt virginians stood womans right choose mcauliffe said overcoming obstacles deny hundreds thousands former felons right vote history tells us enemies progress slow march toward justice equality stop day delegates convention anointed hillary clinton democratic presidential nominee following rollcall vote among delegations states jurisdictions rollcall vote officially final act presidential candidate sen bernie sanders ivt vermont called sought suspension rules designate clinton democratic presidential nominee words echoed clintons 2008 lost primary barack160obama called delegates vote floor least four lgbt speakers represented states roll call jim obergefell lead plaintiff marriage lawsuit marriage equality us supreme court spoke behalf home state ohio im proud fellow buckeyes great state ohio obergefell said ohio boy helped love win last summer ohio boy fellow ohioans know love trumps hate us sen tammy baldwin dwis lesbian congress spoke behalf wisconsin state came roll call vote wisconsin state workers still make things ships tools paper cheese brats beer baldwin said home bucks brewers americas team green bay packers home future senator russ feingold sen tammy baldwin dwis washington blade photo michael key raymond buckley chair new hampshire democratic party rick palacio chair colorado democratic party gay represented states rollcall vote speaker representing massachusetts delegation recognized state among things first state nation pass equal marriage rights speaker representing north carolina pledged elect roy cooper160and repeal hb2 recently enacted antitrans law signed gov pat mccrory democrats abroad speaker delivering portion vote sanders brother larry sanders who160said immensely proud deliver support vermont senator video coverage bernie sanders brother spoke revealed candidate becoming160emotional failure sanders claim nomination roll call vote angered some160in bernie bust crowd they160were seen bolting wells fargo center indignation sanders supporters stormed media tent near convention site held sitin protest result mia satya delegate pledged sanders san francisco one 28 openly trans delegates convention fumed clintons treatment lgbt community immediately rollcall vote asked washington blade unrelated question donald trump think hillary clinton lot undermine lgbt rights globally continuing bomb countries lgbt people live including trans sisters brothers siblings countries like iraq afghanistan iran satya said asked blade whether trump would worse lgbt people clinton satya replied democratic national convention rnc im talking dnc bill clinton debra messing democratic national convention joey wasserman larry sanders mia satya terry mcauliffe
| 724 |
<p>When Saudi ambassador to the United States Adel al-Jubeir told members of the press last month that his government would lead a coalition of Arab nations in a military campaign against Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Yemeni-Americans were already receiving panicked phone calls from relatives.</p>
<p>For thousands of Yemeni-Americans&#160;living in the US, al-Jubeir's announcement meant that their loved ones living in Yemen — also US citizens — would soon be trapped in a war zone.</p>
<p>Not long after the Saudi campaign&#160;began, US citizens found themselves unable to book commercial flights out of Yemen. The county's airports became targets of airstrikes, and airlines were quick to suspend operations.&#160;With nowhere else to turn, many&#160;appealed to the US State Department for help.</p>
<p>But for over a year, the State Department had been&#160;warning&#160;US citizens&#160;in Yemen that the government had no plans to conduct a formal evacuation, should the situation worsen. In February, as Houthi rebels secured more&#160;territory and toppled the government, the US closed its embassy in Sanaa, leaving US citizens&#160;in Yemen without access to consular services.&#160;</p>
<p>"We have to make a decision based on the security situation and what is feasible to do," State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said <a href="http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2015/04/240324.htm" type="external">at a news conference</a> in Washington last week.</p>
<p>"[The situation] is quite dangerous and unpredictable. Doing something like sending in military assets, even for an evacuation, could put US&#160;citizen lives at greater risk."</p>
<p>After growing pressure from Yemeni-Americans in the US and the Council on American-Islamic Relations,&#160;the US sponsored several evacuations being carried out on land and sea by the&#160;Indian government. India has since rescued more than 550 foreign nationals from 32 countries, including a dozen Americans.</p>
<p>For some Yemeni-Americans, the lack of official departure assistance amounts to little more than an “I told you so” from the US government&#160;after years of uncertainty.</p>
<p>“As I've spoken to other Americans, they do feel that [the State Department] just doesn't care about us when we can't get a definite answer on where to go or who to call. It's like they left us out to dry,” said Ameera Ahmed, a Yemeni-American woman in California. Her family relies solely on her for evacuation information.</p>
<p>"Yes, those that are trying and calling everywhere to get answers on what to do next and don't seem to really get anywhere. We feel marginalized.”</p>
<p>Yemeni-Americans&#160;trying to escape fighting inside&#160;Yemen feel similarly abandoned.</p>
<p>“To be honest with you, Yemenis are always treated as second class people. I wasn't shocked when they weren't offering help like they are supposed to do,” said Summer Nasser, a 20-year-old sociology student at Concordia College in New York.</p>
<p>Nasser traveled to Aden, Yemen’s second largest city, for her wedding sometime before the airstrikes. As fighting between Houthis and southern separatists intensified, she fled the city for her family’s ancestral village.</p>
<p>“I have reached out to the State Department via email and they have pushed aside my calls for help, briefly saying that there will be no evacuations at this time. As the security situation deteriorated, the chances of evacuations deteriorated too,” Nasser said. “The Yemeni community in America feels ashamed that they have done little to nothing to help their family and friends stranded in the country."</p>
<p>"They feel that because they are hardworking taxpayers and abide by the laws respectfully, they should be treating emergency cases like this as highly important. They feel that this situation is making them realize that they are marginalized, especially during an emergency situation like this one.”</p>
<p>Nasser says she feels safe for now and that the situation in her village is rather peaceful. Other Yemeni-Americans, however, may be unable to leave major cities.</p>
<p>Haitham Zabarah, a 25-year-old student and US citizen working part-time for his father, was living in Sanaa when the airstrikes began. He's now desperately searching for a way out of the country.</p>
<p>“We’re just trying to get to a safe zone. I don’t know exactly where that is, just any other country where there are no wars,” said Zabarah, who has&#160;to weigh his options carefully because he wife is seven months pregnant.&#160;</p>
<p>“I contacted the State Department. I did everything I could but they said there are no formal evacuations. They suggested that I go through Hodeida and then to Mokha and then take a boat from there but my wife is seven months pregnant. That’s a long and risky trip. I don’t know what to do.&#160;But to make matters worse, my house is right next to a military base.”</p>
<p>Zabarah and his wife have been unable to access&#160;the Indian government-sponsored evacuation of US citizens from Sanaa.</p>
<p>One Yemeni-American, Mokhtar Alkhanshali, made an incredible escape from Sanaa back to his home in San Francisco. Speaking to ABC 7 News in San Francisco, Khanshali described his escape from Sanaa to Aden, after which he took&#160;a fishing boat to Africa and on to Amsterdam before arriving back home.</p>
<p>"I've never been on a small boat like that, in a huge sea like that to a country I've never been to and not knowing if I'd make it or not," Alkhanshali told ABC 7 News.</p>
<p>“Yemeni-Americans have been abandoned in Yemen —&#160;thousands want to get out," he said.</p>
<p>With a ground invasion looming and continued fighting among multiple factions&#160;within the country, the violence in Yemen shows no signs of stopping. Already the Arab world’s poorest country, Yemen&#160;now faces a dire shortage of food and medical supplies.&#160;</p>
<p>Chaloka&#160;Beyani,&#160;UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons,&#160;implored the international community on April 8&#160;“to prepare for massive displacement and humanitarian crisis as conflict torn Yemen further descends into chaos and civilians flee the fighting.”</p>
<p>“The international community must prepare for a worst case scenario. While efforts to reach a diplomatic solution are essential, the picture on the ground is extremely bleak and humanitarian responses must be stepped up as a matter of urgency,” Beyani said.&#160;</p>
<p>Neither the Houthis nor the Saudis have expressed a desire to end hostilities. As the conflict slogs into another week, evacuations are only becoming more difficult for Yemeni-Americans trapped in the fighting. Their families in the US, it appears, have little choice but to keep close touch with their loved ones and hope for the best.&#160;</p>
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saudi ambassador united states adel aljubeir told members press last month government would lead coalition arab nations military campaign yemens houthi rebels yemeniamericans already receiving panicked phone calls relatives thousands yemeniamericans160living us aljubeirs announcement meant loved ones living yemen also us citizens would soon trapped war zone long saudi campaign160began us citizens found unable book commercial flights yemen countys airports became targets airstrikes airlines quick suspend operations160with nowhere else turn many160appealed us state department help year state department been160warning160us citizens160in yemen government plans conduct formal evacuation situation worsen february houthi rebels secured more160territory toppled government us closed embassy sanaa leaving us citizens160in yemen without access consular services160 make decision based security situation feasible state department spokesperson marie harf said news conference washington last week situation quite dangerous unpredictable something like sending military assets even evacuation could put us160citizen lives greater risk growing pressure yemeniamericans us council americanislamic relations160the us sponsored several evacuations carried land sea the160indian government india since rescued 550 foreign nationals 32 countries including dozen americans yemeniamericans lack official departure assistance amounts little told us government160after years uncertainty ive spoken americans feel state department doesnt care us cant get definite answer go call like left us dry said ameera ahmed yemeniamerican woman california family relies solely evacuation information yes trying calling everywhere get answers next dont seem really get anywhere feel marginalized yemeniamericans160trying escape fighting inside160yemen feel similarly abandoned honest yemenis always treated second class people wasnt shocked werent offering help like supposed said summer nasser 20yearold sociology student concordia college new york nasser traveled aden yemens second largest city wedding sometime airstrikes fighting houthis southern separatists intensified fled city familys ancestral village reached state department via email pushed aside calls help briefly saying evacuations time security situation deteriorated chances evacuations deteriorated nasser said yemeni community america feels ashamed done little nothing help family friends stranded country feel hardworking taxpayers abide laws respectfully treating emergency cases like highly important feel situation making realize marginalized especially emergency situation like one nasser says feels safe situation village rather peaceful yemeniamericans however may unable leave major cities haitham zabarah 25yearold student us citizen working parttime father living sanaa airstrikes began hes desperately searching way country trying get safe zone dont know exactly country wars said zabarah has160to weigh options carefully wife seven months pregnant160 contacted state department everything could said formal evacuations suggested go hodeida mokha take boat wife seven months pregnant thats long risky trip dont know do160but make matters worse house right next military base zabarah wife unable access160the indian governmentsponsored evacuation us citizens sanaa one yemeniamerican mokhtar alkhanshali made incredible escape sanaa back home san francisco speaking abc 7 news san francisco khanshali described escape sanaa aden took160a fishing boat africa amsterdam arriving back home ive never small boat like huge sea like country ive never knowing id make alkhanshali told abc 7 news yemeniamericans abandoned yemen 160thousands want get said ground invasion looming continued fighting among multiple factions160within country violence yemen shows signs stopping already arab worlds poorest country yemen160now faces dire shortage food medical supplies160 chaloka160beyani160un special rapporteur human rights internally displaced persons160implored international community april 8160to prepare massive displacement humanitarian crisis conflict torn yemen descends chaos civilians flee fighting international community must prepare worst case scenario efforts reach diplomatic solution essential picture ground extremely bleak humanitarian responses must stepped matter urgency beyani said160 neither houthis saudis expressed desire end hostilities conflict slogs another week evacuations becoming difficult yemeniamericans trapped fighting families us appears little choice keep close touch loved ones hope best160
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<p>A reporter in Morgan County, Missouri, recently caught wind of a trend that is purportedly gaining ground around the country. “More and more women” are buying firearms and practicing shooting, <a href="http://www.lakenewsonline.com/article/20160321/NEWS/160329902" type="external">the Lake News reported on Monday</a>.</p>
<p>The article echoed a story broadcast on CBS News earlier this month that reached the same conclusion. The report, featured on “CBS Sunday Morning,” featured an interview with a woman who loves her pink pistol (“It is pink, I’m a girl!”), a gun store with a pithy name (She’s A Pistol), and novel gun accessories that cater to women, like garter holsters. In another <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/03/15/booming-firearms-sales-driven-by-tiny-guns-conceal-carry-laws.html" type="external">recent article</a>, Fox News surmised that the <a href="" type="internal">swelling output of tiny .380 handguns</a> — a caliber that has shaken off a reputation for poor quality and criminal popularity —&#160;is being fueled by new female shooters desiring a smaller weapon.</p>
<p>Subscribe to receive The Trace’s newsletters on important gun news and analysis.</p>
<p>As gun sales have surged, stories on rising female gun ownership have become a staple for <a href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-11-28/news/ct-x-women-guns-20121128_1_gun-safety-women-and-guns-indoor-ranges" type="external">local</a> and <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/11/us/rising-voice-of-gun-ownership-is-female.html?_r=0" type="external">national</a> <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2016/02/02/smallbusiness/guns-women-concealed-carry/" type="external">news outlets</a>. The sheer frequency of such headlines gives them the ring of truth. But the best available data says their sweeping conclusions don’t hold up. &#160;&#160;</p>
<p>The CBS News and Lake News reports were each sourced to a survey of gun dealers by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), who told the group that they were seeing more female gun buyers. The catch is that the NSSF survey and others like it, researchers say, are based on anecdotal evidence that does not reflect reality.</p>
<p>“There’s been no meaningful directional change in the percent of women owning guns,” Tom Smith, the director of the General Social Survey, tells The Trace. The GSS, a project of the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center, is considered one of the country’s most rigorous sociological surveys. It’s conducted through personal interviews with 1,500 people in each year’s sample, either face to face or online. Since 1980, the study has regularly asked whether respondents personally own a gun, a more direct measure of ownership than dealers’ impressions of who’s coming into their stores. On average, the GSS has found 11.2 percent of American women report owning a gun, fluctuating from as low 9.1 percent in 1989 and as high as 13.7 percent in 1982. In 2014, the last year for which data is available, 11.7 percent of women reported owning a gun, or about the average rate.</p>
<p>The NSSF survey, and others conducted by hunting or gun organizations that seem to show swelling numbers of female gun buyers, typically lack scientifically rigorous methodology. Instead, the groups gauge female ownership by less direct indicators, such as the number of women enrolling in marksmanship classes or the casual impression of dealers.</p>
<p>Data from reputable sources like GSS has been publicly available for decades. Publications have been running&#160;stories based on shaky evidence of a supposed wave of new female gun owners for almost as long. Ad Age, for instance, published&#160;a story in 1989 under the headline, “Why Annie’s Gotta Get a Gun: gun makers shoot for women.” Touching on new guns directed at women, like Smith &amp; Wesson’s Ladysmith pistol, the story quoted a Gallup poll that found the number of women owning guns increased by 50 percent from 1986 to 1988. Those findings no doubt cheered the people paying for the survey. It had been commissioned by Smith &amp; Wesson.</p>
<p>In 1994, amid the early flurry of such trend pieces, the General Social Survey director <a href="http://gss.norc.org/Documents/reports/social-change-reports/SC38.pdf" type="external">released a report</a> that attempted to debunk them. The GSS noted that it had 14 years’ worth of survey results that undermined the persistent narrative that more women were buying guns.</p>
<p>The GSS report has not prevented a credulous press from publishing stories based on the faulty studies. Gun advocates and trade groups continue to push such stories, perhaps because of another trend made clear in the GSS data: While the number of female gun owners has remained essentially the same over that last 30-plus years, the proportion of men who own guns has steadily declined over that same period. From 1980 to 1990, between 44 and 52 percent of male respondents said they owned a gun. In the past five years, that number has averaged close to 35 percent.</p>
<p>Confronted with the downturn, the gun industry is looking for positive stories to tell. “A swell in the ranks of women gun owners has enormous implications for the industry both economically and politically,” a <a href="http://media.graytvinc.com/documents/NSSF+Women+Gun+Owners+Report+(2015).pdf" type="external">2014 NSSF report</a> on female gun buyers says. If the gun industry can draw in more women, it will be better able to make the case to &#160;lawmakers that its customers represent a broad constituency of Americans.</p>
<p>But it doesn’t appear that the gun industry has been able to introduce significantly more women to shooting. Instead, the statistics suggest that the gun business depends on a shrinking group of customers —&#160;male and female —&#160;who buy more and more weapons. Stories about first-time female gun owners, even if they’re based more on anecdotes than hard evidence, obscure that unsettling fact.</p>
<p>[Photo: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg]</p>
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reporter morgan county missouri recently caught wind trend purportedly gaining ground around country women buying firearms practicing shooting lake news reported monday article echoed story broadcast cbs news earlier month reached conclusion report featured cbs sunday morning featured interview woman loves pink pistol pink im girl gun store pithy name shes pistol novel gun accessories cater women like garter holsters another recent article fox news surmised swelling output tiny 380 handguns caliber shaken reputation poor quality criminal popularity 160is fueled new female shooters desiring smaller weapon subscribe receive traces newsletters important gun news analysis gun sales surged stories rising female gun ownership become staple local national news outlets sheer frequency headlines gives ring truth best available data says sweeping conclusions dont hold 160160 cbs news lake news reports sourced survey gun dealers national shooting sports foundation nssf told group seeing female gun buyers catch nssf survey others like researchers say based anecdotal evidence reflect reality theres meaningful directional change percent women owning guns tom smith director general social survey tells trace gss project university chicagos national opinion research center considered one countrys rigorous sociological surveys conducted personal interviews 1500 people years sample either face face online since 1980 study regularly asked whether respondents personally gun direct measure ownership dealers impressions whos coming stores average gss found 112 percent american women report owning gun fluctuating low 91 percent 1989 high 137 percent 1982 2014 last year data available 117 percent women reported owning gun average rate nssf survey others conducted hunting gun organizations seem show swelling numbers female gun buyers typically lack scientifically rigorous methodology instead groups gauge female ownership less direct indicators number women enrolling marksmanship classes casual impression dealers data reputable sources like gss publicly available decades publications running160stories based shaky evidence supposed wave new female gun owners almost long ad age instance published160a story 1989 headline annies got ta get gun gun makers shoot women touching new guns directed women like smith amp wessons ladysmith pistol story quoted gallup poll found number women owning guns increased 50 percent 1986 1988 findings doubt cheered people paying survey commissioned smith amp wesson 1994 amid early flurry trend pieces general social survey director released report attempted debunk gss noted 14 years worth survey results undermined persistent narrative women buying guns gss report prevented credulous press publishing stories based faulty studies gun advocates trade groups continue push stories perhaps another trend made clear gss data number female gun owners remained essentially last 30plus years proportion men guns steadily declined period 1980 1990 44 52 percent male respondents said owned gun past five years number averaged close 35 percent confronted downturn gun industry looking positive stories tell swell ranks women gun owners enormous implications industry economically politically 2014 nssf report female gun buyers says gun industry draw women better able make case 160lawmakers customers represent broad constituency americans doesnt appear gun industry able introduce significantly women shooting instead statistics suggest gun business depends shrinking group customers 160male female 160who buy weapons stories firsttime female gun owners even theyre based anecdotes hard evidence obscure unsettling fact photo daniel ackerbloomberg
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<p>A new Baptist hymnal being developed by Mercer University will make a lasting contribution to worship among Baptists in North America, say three Virginia Baptist who are involved in the project.</p>
<p>More than 50 Baptist pastors, church musicians, composers, scholars and laymen from across the United States and Canada gathered at Mercer University's Atlanta campus Feb. 1-2 to begin fine tuning the hymnal.</p>
<p>Scheduled for release in 2009, the 400th anniversary of Baptists, the hymnal is a collaborative initiative of the Townsend-McAfee Institute Graduate Studies in Church Music at Mercer and the Mercer University Press.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p>“It is a wonderful honor to be a part of a project that will make a lasting impression and contribution to worship within our greater Baptist family,” said Tom Ingram, worship and spiritual development consultant for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. “Baptists have always been a singing people. The Mercer Hymnal Project, guided by a wide variety of some of the most outstanding church musicians and educators from across the country, will follow in that wonderful tradition by including not only the great hymns that have taught us so much and been the vehicle through which we have been able to express our faith beyond words, but also those hymns that have been newly written and composed and that allow us to sing from our hearts and souls from within the culture and context of our contemporary world.”</p>
<p>During the early February meeting in the Atlanta, the project's editorial committee unveiled the official title of the hymnal—Celebrating Grace: Hymnal for Baptist Worship.</p>
<p>“We want all Baptists to feel connected to this hymnal,” said John E. Simons, coordinating editor of the project and director of the Townsend-McAfee Institute Graduate Studies in Church Music at Mercer University. “Grace is part of what it is to be a Baptist, to be a Christian. For all of our differences, grace is a point of common ground among all of us.”</p>
<p>The three-year project has purposefully taken a grass-root approach to developing and designing the hymnal in order to be inclusive of all Baptists and to be open to new ideas for meeting the resource needs of churches.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Providing the leadership for the development of Celebra- ting Grace: Hymnal for Baptist Worship are (left to right, front row) David W. Music, director of graduate studies, School of Music, Baylor University, Wa- co, Texas; Mark Edwards, minister of music, First Baptist Church, Nashville, Tenn.; Paul A. Richardson, professor of church music, Samford Univer- sity, Birmingham, Ala.; Alicia W. Walker, associate pastor of music and worship, Peachtree Baptist Church, Atlanta, Ga.; and J. Thomas McAfee III, chairman and president, Hall- mark Systems, Inc., Atlanta, Ga.; (back row) Milburn Price, retired dean, Samford Univer- sity School of Performing Arts, Birmingham, Ala.; John E. Simons, director of Townsend-McAfee Institute Graduate Stu- dies in Church Music, Mercer University, Macon, Ga., and Stanley L. Roberts, director of choral activities, Townsend School of Music, Mercer University, Macon, Ga.</p>
<p>“We began this project from ground level, without a predetermined agenda,” said Milburn Price, an editor of the project and a retired dean of the School of Performing Arts at Samford University. “We have brought together creative minds, and we are listening to what is being said. The project will benefit greatly from this process.”</p>
<p>The men and women participating in this project include nationally and internationally recognized authorities in hymnology in North America.</p>
<p>“They are contributing their knowledge and talents to making this new hymnal the finest music and worship resource available to churches,” said J. Thomas McAfee III, president and chairman of Hallmark Systems, who serves as the project chair. “We are all Baptists, and while we may not always agree, many want to come together on this and make it work.”</p>
<p>Seminary professor Deborah Carlton Loftis echoed McAfee's description of the project's participants.</p>
<p>“I'm honored to be working on this hymnal project with so many outstanding colleagues who share a passion for congregational singing,” said Loftis, professor of church music at Baptist Theological Seminary. “We have an exciting task before us to gather fresh new expressions of our faith and mission while maintaining a foundational core of familiar well-loved hymns.</p>
<p>“Recognizing the diversity among different Baptist groups, we want to widen the repertoire to support worship for Baptists all over North America. That's a tall order, to be sure, but a challenge I'm ready to embrace. It would fulfill one of my fondest hopes if this collection of congregational song could provide one place of common ground for many Baptists to stand together.”</p>
<p>Also serving on the hymnal projects is David Schwoebel, minister of music at Derbyshire Baptist Church in Richmond.</p>
<p>“I am of course honored and humbled to serve on the hymnal committee with so many of my lifetime ‘heroes' in Baptist church music life,” he said. “I pray I'll be able to positively contribute on this project to affect the lives of others as these highly respected ladies and gentlemen have contributed to church music for years to affect my life and highly influenced my ministry practice and career.</p>
<p>“The task of creating a useful hymnal for Baptists in the 21st century is a tremendous challenge and opportunity. The supplemental music resources committee I serve on has been charged to assemble practical, yet creative worship materials for local churches to use in their worship services. I truly love this creative aspect of our corporate worship life. I believe it is in the innovative, thoughtful delivery of the familiar text and tune that worshippers realize a new and hopefully deeper meaning of what they have sung the same way for years.</p>
<p>“Our committee's work is aggressively underway to research and list everything that has ever been innovatively done on the hymns selected so fare for inclusion—choral descants, tags, intros, organ free accompaniments, handbell, solo instrument and full-blown orchestral accompaniments—and when needed, enlist writers to create new material. Jokingly, I'm glad we have three years to complete the potentially overwhelming task!”</p>
<p>Broad in scope and supportive of Baptist patterns of worship, the hard-bound hymnal will be published for congregational use, yet will provide planning and supplemental resources (printed and online) for church worship leaders. It will include traditional hymns, congregational songs, scripture songs, worship readings, and extensive indices. Organized in a user-friendly manner, the hymnal will feature expanded sections on such topics as baptism, the Lord's Supper, family, Advent, Lent, Easter, corporate worship and praise.</p>
<p>A core collection of 145 hymns has been selected for the hymnal through a survey of ministers of music across the country. To add to the core collection, committee members are reviewing and evaluating new music and hymns submitted for the hymnal. The total collection is expected to include 600 to 650 hymns, plus online resources.</p>
<p>“A clear distinction of this hymnal project is the new collection it will offer,” said Price. “It is like no other at this time.”</p>
<p>A distinction of this hymnal will be the combination of printed and online resources for worship and ministry. The first of their kind, these comprehensive companion resources will provide worship planning tools, responsive readings and litanies, as well as the history of the hymns and information on the composers and authors. It will have searchable detailed and biblical indices. Printed supplemental musical arrangements, such as for piano and organ, instrumental and orchestral, and descants and codas of varying difficulties, will be available online for immediate purchase and download.</p>
<p>“This online resource is a vast untapped area. No one is offering the depth and breath of information and materials we have planned,” said Stanley L. Roberts, an editor and director of choral activities at Townsend School of Music at Mercer University. “Churches of all sizes will benefit from having this tremendous addition to the hymnal.”</p>
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new baptist hymnal developed mercer university make lasting contribution worship among baptists north america say three virginia baptist involved project 50 baptist pastors church musicians composers scholars laymen across united states canada gathered mercer universitys atlanta campus feb 12 begin fine tuning hymnal scheduled release 2009 400th anniversary baptists hymnal collaborative initiative townsendmcafee institute graduate studies church music mercer mercer university press wonderful honor part project make lasting impression contribution worship within greater baptist family said tom ingram worship spiritual development consultant virginia baptist mission board baptists always singing people mercer hymnal project guided wide variety outstanding church musicians educators across country follow wonderful tradition including great hymns taught us much vehicle able express faith beyond words also hymns newly written composed allow us sing hearts souls within culture context contemporary world early february meeting atlanta projects editorial committee unveiled official title hymnalcelebrating grace hymnal baptist worship want baptists feel connected hymnal said john e simons coordinating editor project director townsendmcafee institute graduate studies church music mercer university grace part baptist christian differences grace point common ground among us threeyear project purposefully taken grassroot approach developing designing hymnal order inclusive baptists open new ideas meeting resource needs churches providing leadership development celebra ting grace hymnal baptist worship left right front row david w music director graduate studies school music baylor university wa co texas mark edwards minister music first baptist church nashville tenn paul richardson professor church music samford univer sity birmingham ala alicia w walker associate pastor music worship peachtree baptist church atlanta ga j thomas mcafee iii chairman president hall mark systems inc atlanta ga back row milburn price retired dean samford univer sity school performing arts birmingham ala john e simons director townsendmcafee institute graduate stu dies church music mercer university macon ga stanley l roberts director choral activities townsend school music mercer university macon ga began project ground level without predetermined agenda said milburn price editor project retired dean school performing arts samford university brought together creative minds listening said project benefit greatly process men women participating project include nationally internationally recognized authorities hymnology north america contributing knowledge talents making new hymnal finest music worship resource available churches said j thomas mcafee iii president chairman hallmark systems serves project chair baptists may always agree many want come together make work seminary professor deborah carlton loftis echoed mcafees description projects participants im honored working hymnal project many outstanding colleagues share passion congregational singing said loftis professor church music baptist theological seminary exciting task us gather fresh new expressions faith mission maintaining foundational core familiar wellloved hymns recognizing diversity among different baptist groups want widen repertoire support worship baptists north america thats tall order sure challenge im ready embrace would fulfill one fondest hopes collection congregational song could provide one place common ground many baptists stand together also serving hymnal projects david schwoebel minister music derbyshire baptist church richmond course honored humbled serve hymnal committee many lifetime heroes baptist church music life said pray ill able positively contribute project affect lives others highly respected ladies gentlemen contributed church music years affect life highly influenced ministry practice career task creating useful hymnal baptists 21st century tremendous challenge opportunity supplemental music resources committee serve charged assemble practical yet creative worship materials local churches use worship services truly love creative aspect corporate worship life believe innovative thoughtful delivery familiar text tune worshippers realize new hopefully deeper meaning sung way years committees work aggressively underway research list everything ever innovatively done hymns selected fare inclusionchoral descants tags intros organ free accompaniments handbell solo instrument fullblown orchestral accompanimentsand needed enlist writers create new material jokingly im glad three years complete potentially overwhelming task broad scope supportive baptist patterns worship hardbound hymnal published congregational use yet provide planning supplemental resources printed online church worship leaders include traditional hymns congregational songs scripture songs worship readings extensive indices organized userfriendly manner hymnal feature expanded sections topics baptism lords supper family advent lent easter corporate worship praise core collection 145 hymns selected hymnal survey ministers music across country add core collection committee members reviewing evaluating new music hymns submitted hymnal total collection expected include 600 650 hymns plus online resources clear distinction hymnal project new collection offer said price like time distinction hymnal combination printed online resources worship ministry first kind comprehensive companion resources provide worship planning tools responsive readings litanies well history hymns information composers authors searchable detailed biblical indices printed supplemental musical arrangements piano organ instrumental orchestral descants codas varying difficulties available online immediate purchase download online resource vast untapped area one offering depth breath information materials planned said stanley l roberts editor director choral activities townsend school music mercer university churches sizes benefit tremendous addition hymnal
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<p>Bridge-scandal story has only just begun</p>
<p>For New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, all the news and scrutiny he received last week wasn’t the beginning of the end of this George Washington Bridge scandal. Instead, it’s looking like only the end of the beginning. The Bergen Record reports that New Jersey Democrats plan to issue a new round of subpoenas as soon as today. “Assemblyman John Wisniewski said he plans to issue subpoenas demanding documents from the governor’s former deputy chief of staff Bridget Anne Kelly and spokesman Michael Drewniak, along with other aides whose names surfaced last week in documents related to the lane closures in early September.” Wisniewski even dropped the “I”-word -- impeachment. "The Assembly has the ability to do articles of impeachment" if necessary, said Wisniewski, who added, "We're way ahead of that, though.” (Still, mentioning the I-word only ratchets things up.) Other New Jersey mayors who DID NOT endorse Christie, like Hoboken’s Dawn Zimmer, are wondering if they were recipients of political retribution. “With 20/20 hindsight, in the context we're in right now, we can always look back and say, 'Okay, was it retribution?'” Zimmer said. “I think probably all mayors are reflecting right now and thinking about it, but I really hope that that's not the case.” And Christie will receive lots of attention when he travels to Florida later this week. “He's scheduled to visit next Saturday for a series of fund-raising appearances on behalf of the Republican Governors Association to benefit Gov. Rick Scott's re-election campaign,” the Miami Herald says.</p>
<p>Some Republicans are standing by Christie, others are raising questions</p>
<p>On the Sunday shows, Republican politicians -- like Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Rudy Giuliani -- stood by Christie (though including the caveat “if he’s telling the truth”). And so are top Republican strategists in Iowa and New Hampshire, NBC’s Kasie Hunt reports. “‘At the end of the day, he's going to be just fine,’ said David Kochel, who led 2012 nominee Mitt Romney's efforts in Iowa. ‘He showed leadership. He held people accountable,’ said Jennifer Horn, chairwoman of the New Hampshire Republican Party.” But there were other GOP and conservative voices acknowledging that the scandal is far from over. Here was former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean, Christie’s political mentor: “On the one hand, I think he’s got a lot to offer. I think he’s the most able politician since Bill Clinton,” Kean (R) said in an interview with The Washington Post. “On the other hand, you look at these other qualities and ask, do you really want that in your president?” (So far, there’s no more devastating comment from any Republican than Kean’s comment. Of course, it’s worth noting, Kean’s son and Christie just recently clashed, so this is personal for him, too.) And on Sunday, conservative commentator George Will even compared this scandal to Watergate. And Maureen Dowd made this point over the weekend: Politicians usually will tell the “big lie” if they believe their futures are on the line. That’s the truly big danger here for Christie. At a time when the American public is so distrustful of politics and their politicians, will they give him the benefit of the doubt?</p>
<p>Dem NJ Congressman: HUD will audit post-Hurricane Sandy marketing campaign</p>
<p>And here’s another potential headache for Christie, per NBC’s Frank Thorp: “According to Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), the inspector general of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has told him they will audit a New Jersey tourism marketing campaign paid for with funds for Superstorm Sandy relief. The campaign, which prominently featured Governor Chris Christie and his family during an election year, cost $2 million more than a bid for an ad campaign that would have not featured the governor. According to a release from Pallone's office, the HUD inspector general has told him that ‘they have found enough evidence to justify a full-scale audit of the state's usage of the federal funds,’ which is expected to take months to complete.”</p>
<p>Gates dials down his criticism of Obama, Hillary</p>
<p>Remember when former Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ book was the big news last week? Well, he appeared on “TODAY” -- wearing a neck brace (from a previous injury) -- and Gates largely walked back the critical tone that appeared in early reviews of his book. He called his accounts “even handed” and told NBC’s Matt Lauer: “I actually agreed with virtually every decision the president made on Afghanistan.” He also dialed down his recollection of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton saying she opposed the 2007 Iraq surge due to the ’08 presidential campaign. Gates said he recounted that because it was “such an anomaly” coming from Clinton, who he added never discussed domestic politics at any other time when they were working together. Gates also stated that that Obama’s opposition to the surge had never been political. But Gates DID NOT dial down his statement that Vice President Joe Biden had been wrong about every foreign-policy issue over the past 40 years. “First of all, I think it’s fair to say that, particularly on Afghanistan, the Vice President, he and I were on opposite sides of the fence on this issue,” Gates told NPR. “And he was in there advising the president every day. He was, I think, stoking the President’s suspicion of the military. But the other side of it is, frankly, I believe it.”</p>
<p>Obama to outline NSA reforms on Friday</p>
<p>Other news to watch this week: President Obama will deliver his speech on reforming the NSA on Friday. “President Obama will deliver his highly anticipated speech on reforms to the National Security Agency on Jan. 17, White House press secretary Jay Carney said Friday,” the Washington Post says. “Carney did not elaborate on what the president will say when he outlines his vision for changes to the NSA’s vast surveillance activities. The address comes in the wake of disclosures from documents stolen by former government contractor Edward Snowden.”</p>
<p>Health-care story has become much more manageable for the Obama administration</p>
<p>We’ve only had one full business week in the books, but so far, it appears 2014 is starting a lot better for the Obama administration when it comes to implementing health care than they could have hoped for. Before the Christie-Gates-NSA stories, remember health care? Well, that topic is still in the news, but it has become MUCH MORE MANGEABLE for the Obama administration. The critical stories that are popping up, but they all have to do with enrollment issues that seem to be largely in the rear view mirror. Here are two of the articles we saw over the weekend. One: “Gov. John Kitzhaber’s staff hastily ended his scheduled one-on-one interview with KATU News on Thursday morning barely four minutes after it had begun when KATU began asking about problems with Cover Oregon's website.” Two: “More than a year before Maryland launched its health insurance exchange, senior state officials failed to heed warnings that no one was ultimately accountable for the $170 million project and that the state lacked a plausible plan for how it would be ready by Oct. 1,” the Washington Post says. Those aren’t good stories for these Democrats, but they demonstrate how the Obama administration -- for now -- seems to be on much safer political ground that it was last month. Health care has a long way to go, but simply lowering the heat is a big deal right now for the White House.</p>
<p>Iran deal takes effect on Jan. 20</p>
<p>Over the weekend, NBC’s Ali Arouzi confirmed that the limited nuclear agreement with Iran takes effect on Jan. 20. The New York Times has more: “Iran and a group of six world powers completed a deal on Sunday that will temporarily freeze much of Tehran’s nuclear program starting next Monday, Jan. 20, in exchange for limited relief from Western economic sanctions. The main elements of the deal, which is to last for six months, were announced in November. But its implementation was delayed as negotiators worked out technical details.”</p>
<p>McAuliffe begins his tenure as Virginia governor</p>
<p>The Times also covered Terry McAuliffe’s inauguration as Virginia governor, and the Clintons -- who attended the event -- were the obvious subtext. “But as Mr. McAuliffe delivered his address, with the Clintons seated in the row immediately behind their longtime friend, he made no mention of his political patrons. After winning, on his second try, the governorship of his adopted state in November, Mr. McAuliffe on Saturday seemed intent on showing that he was his own man.”</p>
<p>FL-13 primary is tomorrow</p>
<p>And lastly, don’t forget that tomorrow is the special GOP congressional primary in the race to succeed the late Rep. Bill Young (R-FL). The race features former Young aide David Jolly and state Rep. Kathleen Peters, and the Cook Political Report’s David Wasserman says that Jolly is the favorite to face off against Democrat Alex Sink in March.</p>
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bridgescandal story begun new jersey gov chris christie news scrutiny received last week wasnt beginning end george washington bridge scandal instead looking like end beginning bergen record reports new jersey democrats plan issue new round subpoenas soon today assemblyman john wisniewski said plans issue subpoenas demanding documents governors former deputy chief staff bridget anne kelly spokesman michael drewniak along aides whose names surfaced last week documents related lane closures early september wisniewski even dropped iword impeachment assembly ability articles impeachment necessary said wisniewski added way ahead though still mentioning iword ratchets things new jersey mayors endorse christie like hobokens dawn zimmer wondering recipients political retribution 2020 hindsight context right always look back say okay retribution zimmer said think probably mayors reflecting right thinking really hope thats case christie receive lots attention travels florida later week hes scheduled visit next saturday series fundraising appearances behalf republican governors association benefit gov rick scotts reelection campaign miami herald says republicans standing christie others raising questions sunday shows republican politicians like sen john mccain raz rudy giuliani stood christie though including caveat hes telling truth top republican strategists iowa new hampshire nbcs kasie hunt reports end day hes going fine said david kochel led 2012 nominee mitt romneys efforts iowa showed leadership held people accountable said jennifer horn chairwoman new hampshire republican party gop conservative voices acknowledging scandal far former new jersey gov tom kean christies political mentor one hand think hes got lot offer think hes able politician since bill clinton kean r said interview washington post hand look qualities ask really want president far theres devastating comment republican keans comment course worth noting keans son christie recently clashed personal sunday conservative commentator george even compared scandal watergate maureen dowd made point weekend politicians usually tell big lie believe futures line thats truly big danger christie time american public distrustful politics politicians give benefit doubt dem nj congressman hud audit posthurricane sandy marketing campaign heres another potential headache christie per nbcs frank thorp according rep frank pallone dnj inspector general department housing urban development hud told audit new jersey tourism marketing campaign paid funds superstorm sandy relief campaign prominently featured governor chris christie family election year cost 2 million bid ad campaign would featured governor according release pallones office hud inspector general told found enough evidence justify fullscale audit states usage federal funds expected take months complete gates dials criticism obama hillary remember former defense secretary robert gates book big news last week well appeared today wearing neck brace previous injury gates largely walked back critical tone appeared early reviews book called accounts even handed told nbcs matt lauer actually agreed virtually every decision president made afghanistan also dialed recollection former secretary state hillary clinton saying opposed 2007 iraq surge due 08 presidential campaign gates said recounted anomaly coming clinton added never discussed domestic politics time working together gates also stated obamas opposition surge never political gates dial statement vice president joe biden wrong every foreignpolicy issue past 40 years first think fair say particularly afghanistan vice president opposite sides fence issue gates told npr advising president every day think stoking presidents suspicion military side frankly believe obama outline nsa reforms friday news watch week president obama deliver speech reforming nsa friday president obama deliver highly anticipated speech reforms national security agency jan 17 white house press secretary jay carney said friday washington post says carney elaborate president say outlines vision changes nsas vast surveillance activities address comes wake disclosures documents stolen former government contractor edward snowden healthcare story become much manageable obama administration weve one full business week books far appears 2014 starting lot better obama administration comes implementing health care could hoped christiegatesnsa stories remember health care well topic still news become much mangeable obama administration critical stories popping enrollment issues seem largely rear view mirror two articles saw weekend one gov john kitzhabers staff hastily ended scheduled oneonone interview katu news thursday morning barely four minutes begun katu began asking problems cover oregons website two year maryland launched health insurance exchange senior state officials failed heed warnings one ultimately accountable 170 million project state lacked plausible plan would ready oct 1 washington post says arent good stories democrats demonstrate obama administration seems much safer political ground last month health care long way go simply lowering heat big deal right white house iran deal takes effect jan 20 weekend nbcs ali arouzi confirmed limited nuclear agreement iran takes effect jan 20 new york times iran group six world powers completed deal sunday temporarily freeze much tehrans nuclear program starting next monday jan 20 exchange limited relief western economic sanctions main elements deal last six months announced november implementation delayed negotiators worked technical details mcauliffe begins tenure virginia governor times also covered terry mcauliffes inauguration virginia governor clintons attended event obvious subtext mr mcauliffe delivered address clintons seated row immediately behind longtime friend made mention political patrons winning second try governorship adopted state november mr mcauliffe saturday seemed intent showing man fl13 primary tomorrow lastly dont forget tomorrow special gop congressional primary race succeed late rep bill young rfl race features former young aide david jolly state rep kathleen peters cook political reports david wasserman says jolly favorite face democrat alex sink march
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