Chicago postpones action on new Wal-Mart stores
CHICAGO – For the moment, the Wal-Mart monster has been held at bay. Standing up to immense pressure by the retail giant to open new stores in Chicago, the City Council postponed a decision allowing construction on the city’s south side.
For many, state budgets cuts are life-or-death issue
ST. LOUIS - Melanie Shouse has a hard road to travel. Not only is she fighting breast cancer, she's also fighting the health care industry. As a small business owner, she could only afford a catastrophic health insurance policy, where her co-pay and deductible nears $10,000.
Climate bill provides real cost relief for consumers
While most people understand the urgency of climate change, one of the top concerns many working families have with a cap-and-trade system is added costs for energy.
Canoes head for Suquamish, Chief Seattle's gravesite
NEAH BAY, Washington – Native American Indian youth are voyaging in their dugout canoes from throughout the Pacific Northwest to the town of Suquamish, gravesite of Chief Seattle, for the 20th annual Tribal Canoe Journey, Aug. 3-8.
Civil rights leaders talk economy, housing at La Raza conference
Civil rights leaders and fair housing advocates during a “Putting Our Communities on the Map: The Economic Road to Recovery,” town hall meeting at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) conference here said Latino and African American communities continue to be the hardest-hit by the looming economic crisis.
As food stamp use rises 20 percent, retail stores open doors
In a sign of the growing recessionary troubles, several retail outlets have begun accepting food stamps. According to USA Today, Family Dollar, 7-11, Costco and Target are among the outlets.
U.S. to sign UN treaty on people with disabilities
President Obama recently announced that the United States will sign on to the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at a ceremony commemorating the 19th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Health care reform a major theme at La Raza conference
CHICAGO – One of the most important topics discussed during the National Council of La Raza’s (NCLR) four-day conference here July 25-28 was the overall need for health care reform and how the lack of medical coverage impacts low-income families in general and the Latino and immigrant community in particular.
Party of no and hate
What does the Republican Party stand for any more? If you had asked an old line GOPer, like Colin Powell 10 years ago, he might have said that it stands for 'free markets' and a 'strong defense.' Of course these are code words for tax cuts for the rich and corporate welfare across the board and aggressive foreign military interventions. But the platitudes would have been recognizable.
Devil and details
The president has urged passage of health reform in 2009. The main reason is to remedy quickly harm inflicted on some many thousands of working families each month Congress delays. But the Republicans – and some “Blue Dogs” are bound and determined to stop any kind of reform, having made their deal with the devils of the insurance/medical industry giants.
