A nightmare interrupted: Home foreclosure is postponed
OAKLAND, Calif. -- When does keeping a promise turn into a nightmare? When it involves a home whose price has ballooned beyond reason, a realtor who fails to make loan terms clear, and a lender who refuses to modify soaring mortgage costs.
Health industry goes to White House: real reform or pre-emptive strike?
Representatives from the nation’s biggest corporate health lobbies, in a White House meeting with President Obama today, offered up a plan to voluntarily reduce health care costs by as much as $2 trillion over 10 years. Some commentators say the industry move indicates a tactical shift by the health industry lobbies. Instead of directly opposing major health care reform, as they did in the past, they are signing on to reform while zeroing in on blocking the public option that Obama has proposed.
Lawmakers try to block new abuse photos
NEW YORK, May 11 (IPS) - Civil libertarians are condemning a call by two influential U.S. senators for the White House to block the impending release of photographs showing detainees being abused by U.S. military personnel at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and at other U.S. detention facilities in the Middle East and elsewhere.
The progressive roots of Mother's Day
Today is the 101st anniversary of Mother's Day as we know it. Over at Beliefnet, popular religion scholar Diana Butler Bass reminds us of the progressive origins of Mother's Day, which started with a Virginia native Anna Jarvis, daughter of a Southern social activist:
New report shows millions lost health coverage during the recession
A new report on health care coverage over the last 15 months by the Center for American Progress shows that rapid increases in unemployment have increased the number of uninsured Americans.
Orlando march highlights immigration trends
ORLANDO FL - Over 100 immigrants, workers, and students gathered on lake Eola in downtown Orlando recently to call for changes in United States immigration policy. The focus of the march was to call for an expedited, easier path towards citizenship and to protest what the marchers considered to be discriminatory and harsh measures being taken by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division. Under the hot Floridan sun, the assembled crowd were treated to a host of speakers assembled by organizers from the Farmworker Association of Florida, who spoke to the assembly in a combination of English, Spanish, and Creole.
Spirited May Day Rally raises worker activism and funds
NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- International workers' solidarity was in the air at the People's Weekly World May Day rally, 'No Cuts - No Layoffs - Tax the Rich,' on Sunday, May 5. The jammed hall greeted a powerpoint photo presentation of workers confronting the economic crisis on every continent followed by a panel discussion by Connecticut union leaders.
Paycheck Fairness Act will help end pay discrimination
On average, women make 78 cents for every dollar men make. Even though the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which will make it easier for employees to challenge pay discrimination in court, is now law, it alone is not enough to deter employers from paying women lower salaries than men for equal work.
Obama budget prioritizes healthcare, workers and environment
After a stunning victory in Congress which passed his budget priorities last month, President Obama unveiled the details of his 2010 budget May 7th.
The battle continues over unemployment funds
Facing South has been covering the ongoing saga of Southern Republican governors vs. the federal stimulus. A handful of GOP rising star governors - including those in Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina and Alabama - have been making headlines these past couple of months for rejecting unemployment benefits from the $787 billion federal stimulus package.
