June 28, 2016

Lawmakers poised to expand investigative grand juries

RALEIGH — Legislation advancing through the North Carolina Senate would give new powers to investigative grand juries, a move that the attorney general has been pushing for nearly a decade.

A Senate judiciary committee passed a bill Thursday to give the state the ability to call witnesses and compel them to testify in cases of bribery or public corruption. The measure, which now goes to the Senate Finance Committee, passed the House unanimously earlier this month.

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{Attorney General Roy} Cooper said reliance on the federal government can have its limits, and the tool would give the state greater power to investigate any existing corruption for it.

"Accusations of public corruption are often difficult to prove, and law enforcement and prosecutors need better tools to root out wrong doing by government officials," Cooper said in a statement Thursday. "Investigative grand juries can help uncover the truth and restore faith in government."

Read more: http://democratsforever.freeforums.net/thread/10029/lawmakers-poised-expand-investigative-juries

June 28, 2016

More N.C. school boards become officially partisan

When House Republicans earlier this month voted to make Transylvania County’s Board of Education elections partisan, they highlighted a growing trend.

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Last year, a handful of bills sought to make school board elections partisan. Some were local. Others, like House Bill 324, aimed to make partisanship statewide. Rep. George Cleveland, a Jacksonville Republican and the sponsor of that bill, explained it by saying, “there are material differences in the philosophy of education between individuals and parties. Partisan elections give the voter a much better feel for who he is voting for and what the individual’s philosophy may be.”

Other Republicans, like Sen. Ronald Rabin, a Harnett County Republican, considered it election transparency. “My view of transparency is that the voter has all the information possible,” Rabin said.

Democrats argue the opposite. They say the state doesn’t need partisan elections in traditionally nonpartisan offices.

Read more here: http://democratsforever.freeforums.net/thread/10028/more-school-boards-officially-partisan

June 28, 2016

Civil rights activist and Klan leader attacked problem from opposite sides

C. P. Ellis didn’t really want to go back to work last Thursday. The president of the Durham chapter of United Klans of America, had other things on his mind when he reported back to duty in the maintenance department at Duke University.

Ellis had just spent 10 days serving as co-chairman of SOS – Save Our Schools – a series of open forums on school problems in Durham.

The other SOS chairman was Mrs. Ann Atwater, acting chairman of the board of directors of United Organizations for Community Improvement, a black neighborhood development corporation in Durham.

Read more here: http://democratsforever.freeforums.net/thread/10027/rights-activist-leader-attacked-problem

June 28, 2016

High-profile New Schools’ board, officers unprotected after insurance policy goes unpaid

After the nonprofit NC New Schools suddenly collapsed in April, its high-profile board of directors learned that the unpleasant news went beyond a bankruptcy filing.

The board’s insurance policy had lapsed, leaving the directors unprotected against lawsuits or legal claims.

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The organization’s top officers were also left unprotected.

NC New Schools made North Carolina the nation’s leader in early colleges, which provide college-level classes for high school students. The organization won $11 million in grants from Bill and Melinda Gates, more than $35 million in federal grants and more from North Carolina’s biggest businesses.

Read more here: http://democratsforever.freeforums.net/thread/10026/profile-schools-board-officers-unprotected

June 28, 2016

Missouri News - 6/28/2016

[font color=330099]Note: Democrats Forever is a non-commercial moderated site using free forum software from Pro Boards. I do not derive any income from the site and the site is intended to supplement information on other Democratic sites. Membership is open to anyone and includes both DU members and those who are not registered on DU. Everyone is welcome to view the site, but registration is required to post on the site.

The purpose of the site is to provide a free service that aggregates news about political and non-political issues that may be of interest to Democrats. Notices of updates are provided as a courtesy within the state groups.[/font]

John Q. Hammons declares bankruptcy to focus on legal issues

Woman, man show up at Kansas City hospital with gunshot wounds

Missouri gun bill veto sets up showdown between Democratic governor, Republican legislature

Supreme Court abortion decision resonates for Missouri, Kansas

Platte County man charged with killing four of his family members, burning their bodies

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, other members of Congress allegedly threatened on Twitter

Suit dropped, but will file complaint against Harris-Stowe State University

State's compensation study delayed

Independence man charged with allegedly threatening judge

June 28, 2016

Iowa News - 6/28/2016

[font color=330099]Note: Democrats Forever is a non-commercial moderated site using free forum software from Pro Boards. I do not derive any income from the site and the site is intended to supplement information on other Democratic sites. Membership is open to anyone and includes both DU members and those who are not registered on DU. Everyone is welcome to view the site, but registration is required to post on the site.

The purpose of the site is to provide a free service that aggregates news about political and non-political issues that may be of interest to Democrats. Notices of updates are provided as a courtesy within the state groups.[/font]

Court ruling 'devastating' to Iowa anti-abortion forces

Caucus math is too hard, Democrats say

Branstad: Iowa DOT will continue consolidating facilities

Iowa City reaches $2.1 million settlement with EPA over landfill violations

Iowa auditor: State's finances in good health, but surplus dwindling

Former Waterloo farm supplier faces charges in $1M bank fraud scheme

Grassley's gamble isn't paying off

Eastern Iowa buys buildings for campus

June 28, 2016

Illinois News - 6/28/2016

[font color=330099]Note: Democrats Forever is a non-commercial moderated site using free forum software from Pro Boards. I do not derive any income from the site and the site is intended to supplement information on other Democratic sites. Membership is open to anyone and includes both DU members and those who are not registered on DU. Everyone is welcome to view the site, but registration is required to post on the site.

The purpose of the site is to provide a free service that aggregates news about political and non-political issues that may be of interest to Democrats. Notices of updates are provided as a courtesy within the state groups.[/font]

Rauner warns Democrats on tying stopgap budget to CPS 'bailout'

Rauner spells out what it would take to cut budget deal with Democrats

Illinois medical marijuana director resigns after 1 year

Hillary Clinton in Chicago: I've got to earn voters' trust

Rush, Cook County hospitals get grant for fight against deadly superbugs

CPS will make $676 million teacher pension payment, then what?

Blago unlikely to benefit from ex-Va. gov.’s Supreme Court win

Elgin private school owner plans to appeal $252K award in harassment case

5 reasons why July 1 means more Illinois budget doom

State owes city of Chester $1.2 million for prison utilities

Senate Democrats to propose $750M education funding increase

Mental health provider closing due to no Illinois budget

Activists push for stricter laws in wake of Hastert abuse case

Attorneys want McHenry County State's Attorney candidate's suit against letter writer dismissed

June 28, 2016

'Racist' Red Cross poster prompts apology

When Margaret Sawyer first noticed the Red Cross safety poster at a pool in Salida, Colo., she thought she was looking at an unfortunate relic of the past.

When she saw it a second time at an entirely different pool in the central Colorado town, she was shocked, according to NBC affiliate KUSA.

"I saw this one and I just kept thinking, 'It looks like they're trying to do something here that shows all kids together of all different backgrounds but they're clearly not hitting the mark,'" she said.

Not only were the poster's designers not hitting the mark, Sawyer thought, they had created an image that was racist.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-red-cross-poster-20160627-story.html

June 28, 2016

James Bond might be gay, Her Majesty's man in Chicago hints

He leaves a trail of bodies, dead or deflowered, in every movie he's appeared in — but might Britain's most famous secret agent have had a secret of his own?

According to Her Majesty's man in Chicago, the answer is a resounding "Yes."

Speaking at a party to celebrate Pride at the downtown Virgin Hotel on Friday night, British Consul General Martin Whalley sidestepped awkward questions about the Brexit vote, preferring instead to tell a sharp-suited crowd that included U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk that the UK has the best legal protections for the LGBT community of any country in Europe.

"In 2016 our secret service was named the nation's most LGBT-friendly employer, so way to go, James Bond," he said, before adding with a cheeky leer, "Who'd have thought, eh, who'd have thought?"

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chicagoinc/ct-gay-james-bond-0628-chicago-inc-20160627-story.html

June 28, 2016

Hillary Clinton in Chicago: I've got to earn voters' trust

Hillary Clinton on Monday tried to unite disparate elements of the Democratic Party behind her presumptive nomination, using a stop in Chicago to acknowledge she needs to do more than talk to earn the trust of voters.

Speaking for nearly a half-hour at an international women's luncheon of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition at McCormick Place, the former secretary of state also decried gun violence in Chicago and throughout the nation, calling it "a civil rights issue."

Clinton, who was born in Chicago and raised in suburban Park Ridge, made few references to her likely GOP rival, presumptive nominee and controversial businessman Donald Trump. Delivering a largely low-key talk, she indicated her belief that Trump has been a beneficiary of voters who have lost trust with government.

"Now, I personally know that I have work to do on this front. A lot of people tell pollsters they don't trust me," said Clinton, who blamed "25 years' worth of wild accusations" that would make anyone question her.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-hillary-clinton-operation-push-speech-met-0627-20160627-story.html

Cross-posted in the General Discussion 2016 forum.