text:
He could become the Willie Horton of the immigration crisis.
Milton Mateo Garcia, 28, was caught one year ago entering the U.S. illegally across the Mexican border and was deported back to his native Honduras.
But Mr. Garcia soon re-entered the U.S. illegally — federal authorities either don't know how, or they won't say. He settled with relatives in Philadelphia, where Mayor Michael Nutter had signed an executive order in April declaring it a "sanctuary city" for illegal immigrants.
Since then, it's the city's official policy to defy federal authorities seeking to deport illegal immigrants unless the person sought by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has been convicted of a violent felony. More than 100 communities nationwide have enacted similar policies, with the tacit blessing of the Obama administration.
Living and working in sanctuary, Mr. Garcia last month, according to police, approached a 26-year-old Philadelphia doctor who was walking to her home in the city's fashionable Rittenhouse Square neighborhood after a night out with friends. He is accused of forcing the woman into her apartment and raping her repeatedly.
Police said Mr. Garcia then stole the victim's cellphone and rode away on his bicycle. In perhaps not the smartest of moves, Mr. Garcia kept the victim's smartphone in his possession. Police said they found him, in part, by calling the phone and locating its signal.
With Mr. Garcia now in prison facing trial on rape, kidnapping and robbery charges, ICE has lodged a detainer against him, requesting that local police notify federal immigration authorities before he would be released. But Philadelphia police won't honor that request unless Mr. Garcia is convicted of a violent felony and a judicial warrant is issued.
As with the case in the 1980s of Horton, a convicted felon whose additional crimes while on prison furlough provoked a political furor, Mr. Garcia's situation highlights many of the criticisms of the administration's handling of immigration — from encouraging illegal immigrants to make the journey to the U.S. to failing to secure the border and allowing a patchwork of sanctuary cities and counties where immigrants need not fear deportation.
"There's some collective blame here," said Jessica Vaughan, director of policy at the Center for Immigration Studies. "The city of Philadelphia has made itself a sanctuary and, in doing so, has been shielding lots of criminal aliens from deportation and creating an environment where people have no fear of immigration enforcement."
She said the Obama administration also has encouraged leniency for illegal immigrants "by sending the message that local authorities are free to ignore their own agents when they try to remove these individuals."
"There is no question that the Obama administration has encouraged cities like Philadelphia to adopt sanctuary and noncooperation policies that obstruct ICE from taking custody of offenders like this," she said. "Earlier this year, senior ICE managers in [Washington] told local authorities explicitly that they are free to ignore local ICE officers when they issue detainers seeking custody of criminal aliens like Milton Mateo Garcia."
Ms. Vaughan said this "creates conditions where criminal aliens are more likely to be released into the community and more likely to be able to victimize people when they could be sent home."
She also said the administration's policy of "catch-and-release," in which captured illegal immigrants are released with a notice to appear at far-off court date, contributes to a breakdown in the system.
A spokeswoman for ICE, Gillian Christensen, wouldn't address the question of whether Philadelphia's sanctuary status played a role in Mr. Garcia's case.
She did say that Mr. Garcia, also known as Milton Garcia-Vazquez, "was previously removed from the United States in June 2013" and that ICE has lodged a detainer against him since his arrest.
"By issuing a detainer, ICE requests that a law-enforcement agency notify ICE before releasing an individual in order to allow ICE to assume custody," she said.
A spokesman for Mr. Nutter said the mayor still "fully supports his executive order" in spite of the Garcia case and believes it has enhanced public safety.
"At the heart of his concerns, and the core reason for his order, is his desire to create a stronger context in which all Philadelphians will feel able and willing to share information with the Philadelphia Police Department about public safety matters," said Nutter spokesman Mark McDonald. "This policy will enhance public safety by reducing the fear held by some that interacting with the government, particularly on a criminal investigation, could result in a detainer for themselves or their loved ones."
The head of New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia, an advocacy group that lobbied for the executive order, didn't respond to a request for comment. The group celebrated the mayor's move last spring.
"This is a huge victory for immigrants and their allies, who have fought for years," the group said in a statement at the time. "Philadelphia now has one of the most progressive policies in the country!"
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson met in May with groups seeking stronger enforcement of immigration laws, and some participants said Mr. Johnson seemed frustrated with local governments defying ICE.
But while the president has jealously guarded immigration as a federal prerogative against states like Arizona that planned crackdowns, he hasn't spoken out against or filed lawsuits to block "sanctuary" cities. Instead, he has urged congressional Republicans to approve comprehensive immigration reform that would create a pathway to citizenship for most illegal immigrants currently in the U.S.
In the current border crisis, White House aides say Mr. Obama wants to see the laws enforced.
"The president's committed to enforcing the law," said White House press secretary Josh Earnest. "The law will be rigorously applied."
He added that the Senate bill, which House Republicans won't consider, "would have a tangible impact on so many of the problems that we see in our immigration system, not just the problems that we're seeing at the border."
Republicans say that Mr. Obama's nondeportation policies, plus other go-it-alone executive actions, mean they simply do not trust him to implement any security crackdown.
About 40,000 people annually re-enter the U.S. illegally after being caught trying to cross the border.
When he was arrested for the rape, Mr. Garcia was working at Tashan, an Indian restaurant in Philadelphia. The management said in a statement that Mr. Garcia had presented all required documents before he was hired as a part-time employee.
It's unclear when Mr. Garcia returned to the U.S. after his deportation in June 2013, but apparently he came back quickly. Relatives told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he had been living in the city for about a year when he was arrested for the rape.
Conservative radio host Dom Giordano of Philadelphia wrote in the paper last week that the Obama and Nutter administrations share in the blame for the situation.
"If this alleged rapist [was] convicted, this woman would never have been raped if he was not here illegally," he wrote. "And he would not be here illegally if our borders were not so porous; if restaurants would not look the other way and hire people here illegally; and if Nutter would not erect a neon sign welcoming illegals with his announcements that he would not aid federal authorities in enforcing our immigration laws."
© Copyright 2014 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.


text:
Change you've converted the HAP folder into an application on your website
Hi All,
I have previously setup HAP using IIS 7.5 and it's own sub-domain site to test it our before going live with our school. Now I am trying to set it up again from scratch but as an application onto our school website which runs wordpress. I have setup the HAP application pool, added the https binding and added HAP as an application to our existing website but whenever I browse to the site to setup.aspx all checks are showing a red X.
I have checked the IIS AppPool\HAP permissions and they seem correct and have tried opening basestyle.css which opens fine.
I have tried accessing /api/test and /api/seup but both are showing 403 - Forbidden
I have debuged in firefox and it says:
GET https://www.website.com/HAP/api/test?1368184982402 - 403 Forbidden
GET https://www.website.com/HAP/api/setup/help - 403 Forbidden
I have changed the AppPool that my school website uses and the error in firefox changes to:
GET https://www.website.com/HAP/api/test?1368184982402 - 404 Not Found
GET https://www.website.com/HAP/api/setup/help - 404 Not Found
Thanks for any suggestions in advance.
Change you've converted the HAP folder into an application on your website
Thanks for the reply Nick,
The HAP folder is already an application though, the HAP files are not located in the same directory as my school website but I right clicked on the site and clicked add application and did it that way. Would that make a difference?
Last edited by Paul-K; 10th May 2013 at 03:41 PM.
Ok, that's the correct way of doing things, it's very odd that it isn't working correctly.
Double check the Application Pool that HAP is using, to check it's using the HAP App Pool and that the app pool is set to ASP.net 4.0 Integrated Pipeline.
Hi Nick, I've completely removed IIS and started again, I've put my school website and HAP on the default website, HAP is running as an application as before under the HAP AppPool and the school website is running under the Default AppPool, all permissions are set correctly and all is working apart from services activated still having a red X. I have a HTTP binding with the school website as the Header and a HTTPS binding that is registered to the school website also. If I remove the HTTP binding, services activated works but I need both bindings as the school website runs on HTTP.
Is there any way around this?
Many thanks for any suggestions you may have
What you may want to do is setup a seperate website for https, and copy the http site settings. ASP.net can be a PITA sometimes
Sorry I don't quite follow. Are you saying I should setup a new site for HAP all on it's own and add the HTTPS binding and setup a separate site for my school website with the HTTP binding, this would mean that HAP is no longer running as an Application but as a site but would also mean my URL rewrite would no longer work as there is no HTTP binding for it to redirect from.
Basically, keep HAP in the sub folder, you can also copy your main site over to the HTTPS site as well, then on the http site, make a folder and set it to redirect to the https site when you go to the hap folder, if that makes any sense.
Paul-K (11th May 2013)
Thanks for that Nick, I now have my school website and applications (phpmyadmin & HAP) setup on one HTTPS site and my school website with a HTTP binding and two folders with HTTP redirects to go to my HTTPS sites.
Thanks for your help with this, I hadn't even considered putting folders with redirects.
As always your help is spot on.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- From mobile
- Net Ten
- Dec 14
- by anonymous
- #569729
I have a net ten phone this is the fourth replacement I have got from the company there service is very bad and there phones are junk Add comment
I have a net ten phone this is the fourth replacement I have got from the company there service is very bad and there phones are junk Add comment
Rediculous and idiotic service. First off I don't understand why you need to offer 50 different phone cards.....oh so you can get consumers to buy the wrong one and be stuck with it????? What a great business model! Then you call for customer service and no one can explain why the same card I used last month all of a sudden is not the right plan for my phone, and no refund! Wtf?!??! Read more ›Was this review helpful? 0 0 3
they don't want me to put are time on my phone I tell them what I need and they tell me they cant help me I was getting the 45.00 air time they told me they dent have that plan any more I see you still do then I went to the 35.00 dollar are time now they don't want me to put it on so I can give my business some one else if net ten don't want it this is not the first time this has happen they... Read more ›Was this review helpful? 0 0 3
I just spent 26 days into what I now call net10 ***. It began on June 20th with loss of signal. I called :and was told towers were down in Texas call baqck in 24 hours. That went on for 5 days, then I was told I needed a new SIM card and it would be here in 3-5days but I had to purchase a new air time card to receive the credit days since my days ran out during the ordeal. I purchased a 750... Read more ›Was this review helpful? 0 0 4
Had this phone for two years and was on auto refill monthly. Has been fine till the phone showed that we have zero service days. I called Net Ten who told me that there was a glitch in their system and the auto refill was not charged to my account. I had to pay for more minutes to reactivate the phone. My phone had 8030 minutes on it just prior to reactivation. As soon as they activated it... Read more ›Was this review helpful? 0 0 4
Not a customer service company at all. Net10 took away my service days even though I have auto pay. Phone person did not want to help so I asked and was told there were no supervisors, he was the only person there. After he kept me on the phone for more than 30 minutes, he said he would need to get a supervisor. First rule of customer service--DON'T LIE! then I couldn't get all my minutes back.... Read more ›Was this review helpful? 0 0 3
I have 3 Net10 phones for my children. As long as you do not need any type of assistance at all you should be sort-of OK. God help you if you need to contact Net10 to resolve an issue or do any type of transaction - whether you contact them on-line or on the phone. This company is truly the poster child for the worst customer service ever encountered in North America. First, the customer... Read more ›Was this review helpful? 0 0 4
Approx. On Feb. 23, 2014 I called to transfer a phone number to a new android phone. Should have been a easy and simple transaction. I did the same thing with straight talk and had no problem. Anyway they lost my number said it was used (still on my old phone) old phone not deactivated yet. Finally said to follow *22890 for activation. Phone activated, problem number not attached. Called back.... Read more ›Was this review helpful? 0 0 4
I had been a Net 10 customer for a couple of years and then one of the two phones got dropped in water and didn't work anymore. I purchased minutes with 60 days and unlimited roll over so even if you used up your days on one aircard you could add them to the next. Well after the phone went in the drink I didn't keep adding days. I last purchased 60 days on 7/31/2013 that should have gone until... Read more ›Was this review helpful? 0 1 3


text:
Now Playing
Connect with Us
Podcasts & RSS Feeds
|All Content
|View all podcasts & RSS feeds
Most Active Stories
- Non-Verbal & Non-Linear, Jill Burton's Singing Creates Spontaneous Soundscapes
- Choral Arts of Chattanooga Presents 'Wonderful Peace' Holiday Concert 12/13
- 'A Christmas Story, The Musical' Adds New Depth to Beloved Characters
- Give a meaningful gift through WUTC
- UTC recognized by U.S. News and World Report for work with student veterans
The Two-Way
Injuries Reported In 'Major' Train Derailment In Connecticut
Originally published on Fri May 17, 2013 8:57 pm
Two Metro-North Railroad trains have collided on a stretch of track near Fairfield, Conn., causing a "major derailment" and "preliminary reports of injuries," according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
[Update at 8:55 p.m. ET: The Associated Press quotes Connecticut officials as saying about 50 people have been hurt, four of them seriously.]
According to The Hartford Courant:
"A Metro-North commuter train derailed Friday night and hit a train heading in the opposite direction near the Fairfield-Bridgeport border, and there are preliminary reports of injuries, an MTA official said.
"At about 6:10 p.m. an eastbound train, the 4:41 p.m. train out of New Haven, derailed just east of the Fairfield metro station, said Marjorie Anders, an MTA spokeswoman. It then hit the side of a westbound train on the adjacent track.
"Emergency personnel are on scene and there are preliminary reports of injuries, she said."
Connecticut Post reporter Denis O'Malley spoke to NPR from the scene. He said injuries included one person with serious back injury and another with a neck injury.
Update at 8:20 p.m. ET: No Known Life-Threatening Injuries:
Reuters quotes Fairfield police spokesman Matt Panilaitis as saying none of those involved in the accident were believed to be suffering from life-threatening injuries.
The news agency also quotes Dianne Auger, a spokeswoman for St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, as saying nine people were taken to the hospital as a result of the accident and one was listed in serious condition with head injuries.
The cause of the derailment was not immediately known, Reuters says.
According to The Associated Press:
"The railroad says the accident involved a New York-bound train leaving New Haven. It derailed and hit a westbound train near Fairfield, Conn. Some cars on the second train also derailed."


text:
By Sport
- Selected:
- All Sports
- Selected:
By Section
By Columnist
By Insider
By Player
By Team
- Selected:
Tennessee Titans
- All Teams
- Selected:
49 results for "darren mcfadden"
2014 rankings update: New No. 1 at WR, TEEric Karabell
It's never too late for NFL players to change the minds of fantasy owners, which is why no top spot in our end-of-season positional and overall rankings is ever truly safe. Players get better, worse, or injured. So it is that the top name in two fant...Blog | October 28, 2014
RTC: Should Titans look at veteran RBs?Paul Kuharsky
Reading the coverage of the Tennessee Titans ... The Titans could pursue a running back in free agency, says Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. The prime guys are Ben Tate, Darren McFadden and Donald Brown. To which I say: They're going to get out of...Blog | March 10, 2014
Power Rankings: No. 26 Oakland RaidersPaul Gutierrez
A weekly examination of the Raiders' ESPN.com Power Ranking: Preseason: 29 | Last Week: 26 | ESPN.com Power Ranking since 2002 While the Oakland Raiders seem to be sinking in real life, they are merely treading water in our Power Rankings. D...Blog | November 26, 2013
Raiders lose Mychal Rivera, Mike JenkinsPaul Gutierrez
OAKLAND -- Rookie tight end Mychal Rivera and cornerback Mike Jenkins suffered concussions in the Oakland Raiders' 23-19 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. And with such a short turnaround before the Thanksgiving Day game at the Dallas Cowboy...Blog | November 24, 2013
Watson among inactives, Pryor activePaul Gutierrez
OAKLAND -- Rookie right tackle Menelik Watson is an apparent healthy scratch for the Oakland Raiders as Watson, who was not on the team's injury report this week, is among their seven inactive players. Terrelle Pryor's right knee, though, is healt...Blog | November 24, 2013
WR Moore, DE Hunter ruled out vs. TitansPaul Gutierrez
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders ruled four players out of Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans in leading receiver Denarius Moore, defensive end Jason Hunter, running back Darren McFadden and strong safety Tyvon Branch. Moore injured ...Blog | November 22, 2013
Jennings finding stride as featured backPaul Gutierrez
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Has Rashad Jennings relegated Darren McFadden to the role of change-of-pace running back? And if so, would that necessarily be a bad thing? Of course, for McFadden to get on the field at all he'll have to heal up from his twe...Blog | November 21, 2013
Power Rankings: No. 26 Oakland RaidersPaul Gutierrez
A weekly examination of the Raiders' ESPN.com Power Ranking: Preseason: 29 | Last Week: 27 | ESPN.com Power Ranking since 2002 No Terrelle Pryor? No Darren McFadden? No problem. While the "breakout" performance of former Penn State walk-on and...Blog | November 19, 2013
2013 ranks update: Replacing RodgersEric Karabell
Happy November! Week 9 ended on a sour note for one of the best quarterbacks in the league (Aaron Rodgers), but where does he rank at his position the rest of the season? While we can't make players healthy, we can provide our opinion on player value...Blog | November 05, 2013
Fantasy Football - Week 5 cheat sheet - Last-minute start, sit, i...Tim Kavanagh
Tim Kavanagh sifts through ESPN Insider's top fantasy content from Week 5 to present the best start, sit, injury and pickup advice in one place.Story | Conversation | October 04, 2013
Fantasy Football 2013 - Ray Rice among overvalued RBsKC Joyner
KC Joyner identifies 10 RBs who are being overvalued in fantasy football leagues this season, including Baltimore's Ray Rice.Story | Conversation | August 22, 2013
Which teams are in the race for Jadeveon Clowney? - NFLAaron Schatz
Jadeveon Clowney is the favorite to go first overall in the 2014 NFL draft. Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders takes a look at where he could land.Story | Conversation | August 15, 2013
RBs: 2012 review, plus 2013 preview/ranksEric Karabell
One might think the entire running back conversation for the 2012 fantasy football season starts and ends with a certain Minnesota Vikings marvel who proved injury timelines can be different for certain players. Well, there was a lot more that occurr...Blog | January 15, 2013
Alfred Morris, C.J. Spiller among top running back surprises in 2...Eric Karabell
Eric Karabell recaps the year in fantasy at the running back position and presents his initial 2013 RB rankings.Blog | Conversation | January 15, 2013
Fantasy football: Week 8 NFL preview -- Don't worry about Calvin ...Christopher Harris
Christopher Harris explains what his observations from Week 7 mean for Week 8 in fantasy football, including thoughts on Calvin Johnson and potentially good matchups ahead for Sam Bradford and Frank Gore.Story | Conversation | October 26, 2012
Chris Johnson of Tennessee Titans, despite his early struggles, s...Christopher Harris
Christopher Harris breaks down Sunday's Week 7 action, and explains why you don't give up on big-time talents in fantasy, like Chris Johnson and Darren McFadden.Story | Conversation | October 22, 2012


text:
Teddy Bridgewater pass complete to Eli Rogers for 31 yards to the Temp 30 for a 1ST down.
Use a Facebook account to add a comment, subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment, and may be used on ESPN's media platforms. Learn more.


text:
New Zealand Pensioner Blinded by Vodka Saved by Whisky
- Order Reprints
- Text Size
By Hannah Osborne | December 4, 2012 12:15 AM EST
A pensioner from New Zealand went blind after drinking vodka only to regain his sight with the aid of whisky.
Denis Duthie, 65, was celebrating his parents' 50th wedding anniversary in Taranaki on New Zealand's North Island when he drunk some vodka given to him by his catering students from the Western Institute of Technology.
The vodka reacted with his diabetes medication and hours later Duthie lost his eyesight.
He told the New Zealand Herald: "I thought it had got dark and I'd missed out on a bit of time but it was only half past three in the afternoon. I was fumbling around the bedroom for the light switch.
"I'd just gone completely blind."
Duthie thought the blindness might be temporary and tried to sleep it off but he was still blind when he woke up the following morning.
He visited the Taranaki Base Hospital and was taken into theatre immediately. The surgeon said that when they cut into his stomach, there was a strong smell similar to nail varnish remover.
The doctor said that Duthie was suffering from formaldehyde poisoning, which is associated with consuming methanol. To counteract the poison, he needed ethanol, a type of alcohol found in whisky.
As the hospital did not have enough medical ethanol, the doctor went to the local off-licence and purchased a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky, which was then drip-fed to Duthie.
"I woke up five days later and I could see as soon as I could open my eyes," Duthie said.
Vodka has been known to cause blindness by containing dangerous levels of methanol.
To contact the editor, e-mail:
- Order Reprints
- Text Size
Join the Conversation
- Sydney Siege Victim Katrina Dawson Killed by Man Haron Monis, Preliminary Report Suggests
- Sydney Siege Aftermath: Australia's Gun Laws May Be Under Review
- Australian Muslim Says Sorry for Sydney Siege
- Sweden Launches Website To Crack Down On Child Sex Tourists
- Rupert Murdoch Blasted For 'Insensitive' Tweet Over Bloody Outcome of Sydney Siege


text:
free shippingon most orders over $49*
Get 3% Backwith AllModern rewards
Amber Sporting Goods Reaction Ball
This ball can be bounced off any hard surface, once bounced the ball bounces in a random pattern. Try to grab it in individual practice or team setting.
Amber Sporting Goods Reaction Ball
We're sorry, we have no weights and dimensions for this product.
|Product Type: Agility or plyometric training item
|Number of Items Included: 1
|Latex Free: Yes
|Battery Required: No
|Pump Included: No
|DVD Included: No
|Handrail Included: No
|Wheeled: No
|Exercise Training Type: Aerobic
|Bottle Included: No
|Arms Included: No
|Country of Manufacture: Imported
|Assembly Required: No
|Installation Required: No
|Additional Parts Required: No
|CPSIA or CPSC Compliant: Yes
|General Conformity Certificate: Yes
|OSHA Compliant: Yes
Still have questions about this product? We're here to help
Amber Sporting Goods Reaction Ball
Tell us what you think!
Tell us what you think about this product. It will help us provide you with better products in the future and help your fellow shoppers make better purchases.Write the first review
About the ManufacturerAmber Sporting Goods, Inc. offers a comprehensive range of quality boxing, kickboxing, boxing aerobics, Martial Arts, soccer goods, and more! These products are designed and developed to cater to the needs of all sports enthusiasts. The goal of Amber Sporting Goods is to provide a timely and friendly service to customers in a cost effective way.
OUR SKU # ASG1438Reaction Ball is also sometimes listed under the following manufacturer numbers: RBALL-L, RBALL-S


text:
The 2014 TLN Top Twenty Leafs Prospects: Honourable Mentions
Justin Fisher
August 23 2014 10:04AM
Welcome to TLN's 2014 Top Twenty Leafs Prospects feature, which we are kicking off today and will be running through the next few weeks. This year, Steve Dangle, Jeff Veillette, Bobby Cappucino, Jon Steitzer, Ryan Fancey, Dominik Luszczyszyn, Steve Tzemis, Cam Charron, and Justin Fisher (yours truly) all voted on the Leafs' top prospects. Every day, we will continue the countdown with a new prospect profile, breaking down who they are, where they play, and how far they'll go.
The Steve Dangle Podcast - July 22nd, 2014 - #BetterSteve
Justin Fisher
July 22 2014 10:39PM
On this episode, Steve is on his honeymoon, so I join Adam and Chris to talk about David Booth, the Leafs' new-look bottom six, Kyle Dubas, and the first time Dangle got noticed in public.
Leafs, Franson Avoid Arbitration, Agree to One-Year Contract
Justin Fisher
July 21 2014 08:16AM
The Toronto Maple Leafs have avoided today's salary arbitration hearing with defenceman Cody Franson by signing him to a one-year, $3.3M contract, because apparently everyone had tee times.
Franson was the Leafs' highest scoring defender last season, with five goals and 33 points in 79 games.
Rinat Valiev Takes Cooking Classes, Signs Entry Level Contract
Justin Fisher
July 10 2014 09:49PM
It's been a pretty big day for Rinat Valiev, the Leafs' 2014 3rd round pick. First, he learned how to cook nutritious meals as part of Toronto's prospect development camp. Then, he signed a three-year entry level contract.
The Leafs' 2014 Draft, Second Rounders, and the New-Look Prospect Pool
Justin Fisher
June 30 2014 04:53PM
It appears that Dave Morrison, the Toronto Maple Leafs' Director of Amateur Scouting, has pleasantly surprised a good number of his critics.
While a few of the newest Leafs certainly possess size and strength, each one of them has a developing offensive game that the organization's prospect pool certainly lacked. With all due respect to Connor Brown, Andreas Johnson, and Carter Verhaeghe, offensive skill was an area that the Leafs sorely needed to improve upon.


text:
Envision Financial
|Credit Union
|Financial services
|Delta Credit Union: 1946
First Heritage Savings: 1954
Merged as Envision Financial 2001
Valley First Credit Union (1947) and Envision merged as First West Credit Union (2010)
|Langley, British Columbia, Canada
|Key people
|Shelley Besse, President
|$297.78 million CAD (2013)
|Net income
|$37.7 million CAD (2013)
|Total assets
|$7.7 billion CAD (2013)
|1,294 (2013)
Envision Financial, a division of First West Credit Union, is a member-owned financial institution based in British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1946, Envision Financial was established in 2001 through a merger between Lower Mainland-based Delta Credit Union, whose roots were in the fishing industry, and Fraser Valley-based First Heritage Savings Credit Union, which had historic ties to the farming and agriculture industries. First Heritage Savings Credit Union was the product of a merger between East Chilliwack Credit Union and Clearbrook District Mennonite Savings Credit Union in 1983.[1]
In 2008, Envision Financial entered into discussions with Penticton-based Valley First Credit Union to merge with one another and develop a new financial services organization for Western Canada. In September 2009, members at both credit unions voted in favour of the merger proposal, and on Jan. 1, 2010, Envision Financial and Valley First merged to become First West Credit Union. In 2013, Enderby & District Credit Union joined First West Credit Union.
Through First West, credit union members have access to 38 branches and 29 insurance offices throughout B.C. The credit union has $7.7 billion in assets under administration, nearly 1,300 employees, and 177,000 members. First West is the third-largest credit union in B.C. and the fifth-largest in Canada.[2] Envision Financial, Valley First and Enderby & District Financial continue operating as divisions of First West Credit Union, retaining their existing brand names in each respective market.
About Envision Financial[edit]
Envision Financial has a network of 21 branches and 16 insurance offices throughout B.C. in the communities of Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Delta, Hope, Kitimat, Langley, Mission, Surrey and Maple Ridge. Its regional administration centre is located in Langley.
A number of First West subsidiary businesses operate under the Envision Financial name, including Envision Insurance Services and Envision Investment Services. Envision Financial has become known for its trademark Redfrog mortgage, which was introduced in 2005.[3]
In 2013, Envision Financial launched its signature cause, The Full Cupboard. The Full Cupboard is a unique hunger fighting initiative that aims to raise food, funds and awareness for food banks in the communities in which Envision Financial operates. Through this innovative program, Envision Financial has committed to raising at least $1 million for local food banks over the next 10 years.
For eight years running, Envision Financial was recognized as one of the 50 Best Employers in Canada by the Globe & Mail's Report on Business magazine, which publishes the annual 50 Best Employers in Canada survey conducted by Hewitt Associates.[4] In 2007, Envision Financial received the inaugural "Employer of Choice" WorkLife BC Award sponsored by the British Columbia provincial government's Ministry of Children and Family Development.[5] Envision Financial is also designated a Caring Company by Imagine Canada.[6]
Envision Financial is a member of Central 1 Credit Union and is registered with the Credit Union Deposit Insurance Corporation of BC.
External links[edit]
- ^ Envision Financial. "History." Web. 13 March 2011. https://www.envisionfinancial.ca/Personal/AboutUs/MediaCentre/History/.
- ^ Central of Canada -Largest Credit Unions - Results Q4 2008
- ^ Credit Union Central of British Columbia
- ^ Hewitt Associates' 50 Best Employers in Canada survey
- ^ Mary Polak, Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
- ^ Imagine Canada's Caring Companies List


text:
- North America »
- United States »
- Louisiana »
- Clinton »
- Radio Amor - WWRA
Clinton - Louisiana, United States - Spanish
Songs playing in Radio Amor - WWRA
Get our Simple Radio app for iOS devices (download here).
Android app is coming soon, so stay tuned!
We've also developed a mobile website that will work on all devices. You can check it out by visiting our mobile radio site from your phone or tablet's mobile browser - it's free, no download required. For more information go to our Mobile Support Site .
In other languages
See this page in French: Ecouter Radio Amor - WWRA en ligne
See this page in German: Hören Radio Amor - WWRA online
See this page in Portuguese: Reproduzir Radio Amor - WWRA ao vivo
See this page in Spanish: Escuchar Radio Amor - WWRA en vivo


text:
Can you use baking soda for insect bites?
- Q: Can you use baking soda for insect bites?
- A: Baking soda is an over-the-counter product used in cleaning and baking. Baking soda has also been used as an alternative therapy in teeth whitening, sunburns and injects bites. Because dietary supplements and alternative therapies have not been thoroughly studied in the clinical setting, possible side effects and interactions with other drugs are not well known. Also because herbs, supplements and other alternative therapies are not strictly regulated in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, these products are not required to be tested for effectiveness, purity, and safety. In general dietary supplements and alternative therapies should only be taken under the supervision of your health care provider. Kimberly Hotz, PharmD
Related Questions
If this answer isn't what you were looking for, then ask a question of your own:
Search Questions and Answers
To view more questions and answers on a variety of health issues, enter a keyword to search or click on a featured topic.
Recent Drug Ratings
- Insulin Glargine for Diabetes mellitus
- Gildess FE 1.5/0.03 for Contraception
- Rolaids Extra Strength for Pyrosis (heartburn)
- Binosto for Osteoporosis
- Exemestane for Breast Cancer
- Clozapine for Bipolar Disorder
- Osphena for Dyspareunia
- Tecfidera for Multiple Sclerosis
- Sanctura XR for Urinary Incontinence
- V-Gan-25 for Allergic Reaction


text:
Holiday Shipping Recommendations »
- Style: 20521712
- Color: Green
- Made of 100% Cotton, Knit
- Infant Apparel
Reviewed by 1 customer
- Breathable
- Comfortable
- Lightweight
Best Uses
- Casual Wear
Comments about Tennessee Volunteers NCAA Infant Daisy Dress:
Product was listed as a 12 month however when it came it was actually a 6-12 month size (that's a big difference). The product should be listed with exact size because when a child is that small a few months makes a huge difference.
- Sizing:
- Feels half size too big
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes


text: Teaching Composition Writing Reflection Reflection composition teaching students reflection of how students in composition teaching creative ability "Innovation is the soul of a nation is a nation inexhaustible power. "innovative and practical abilities of a modern society the basic requirements of the quality of talent, as the education service is necessary for this purpose. The new round of reform of basic education to cultivate creativity in our students and the practical ability as an important goal. Composition teaching as an important section in language teaching, must conform to this trend. However, in the long-term composition teaching, we focus on innovation is not enough. As the college entrance examination, in the exam guide, we live to writing and teaching purposes with the examination. Teachers to teach students desperately writing examination skills, how to organize the structure, how the idea of how overwhelming purposive and other roads sections to impart to students, of course, we are not denying the teaching of writing skills can often teach the course with a large the utilitarian, the result of creative students has been severely hampered. Students in case of various styles such as the table was writing manuals, writing Daquan, Examination Tips, etc. books. Results of students mere copycat, nondescript, fraudulent claims directly back Pham Van, is more serious is that students lose exam essay atmosphere of knowledge, fear of science, have lost interest in writing, but also the loss of understanding of the nature of writing. This phenomenon is not only contrary to the concept of modern education and teaching, but also runs counter to modern quality of talent. Can not but cause us to reflect on. Therefore, this article on how to train students in composition teaching in the creative ability and peer exchange. 1, create free environment student's essay to the results, innovations, and can not do without a relatively free environment. Only in a relaxed environment, students will be given full play of thinking, students will get to display their individuality. Over the years, our composition teaching often for college entrance, in a composition test design, according to, the entrance of the time set in the very tight time for students, very tense atmosphere in the complete composition, even in a hostile mood to complete the composition, The effect can be imagined. The result could have no titration of the test composition must be "legal basis" to thousands of students trapped in the middle of stereotypes. Of course, this does not encourage students to develop the habit of excessively bureaucratic, but hope that students in a calm, relaxed mood going to seriously complete the composition, for students to observe, collect, filter, collate the information of the time. In fact, too much tied to the students, but will restrict students in terms of free play, devoid of personality of students. Just think, south of Yangtze River to the students to write match North scenery, the mountains of the child to stay at home to write today's technology, will be written, will be a creative? We often hear of some teachers lamented: student essay, diary, weekly journal writing geometric test is much better. This phenomenon can not but arouse our serious consideration. In the final analysis because it is the student in a state of complete freedom, is in a relaxed state of mind under completion. Of course, the relaxed environment is also reflected in the regulation of Students, if students of a particular composition is resistant to complete their compulsory, might as well let him not write. We can through a variety of psychological adjustment, such as encouraging, talk communication, successful experience, etc., to provide students with a strong desire to write. Interest is the best teacher. Possible to select topics of interest to students, for students in a state of complete freedom, so that "I write what I, I I write my heart," and this will have a multiplier effect. 2, to encourage students to speak the truth "language standard" clearly, "Writing to the feelings of sincere, seek to express their natural, social, and life experience and truly unique experience." If the students have even the courage to tell the truth no, it is difficult to ask him to be innovative in composition, only the courage to speak the truth, tell the truth, to talk about innovation. Only students in the writing as a need to write their own emotions as Xuanxie, real feelings, the value of expression of the ideal flying, statements that truth, whipping evil stage, the students of the internal driving force can be mobilized what the potential students will emerge intelligence, creativity will be fully developed. However, the student's writing over the years developed a kind of "impractical" and the unhealthy. We are teaching in composition, often find such an awkward phenomenon: a composition and found many articles to write their own parents have been hospitalized, and even the contents of the death of their loved ones. Results of composition is devoid of text, reading boring. This can not be described as "impractical" and thinking of an impact on students. If this trend can not be stopped in time, the harm to society is infinite, the sixties and did the wind has been left to the people's memory of pain, we do not want to repeat that kind of tragedy. Just think, we have trained people with the courage to tell the truth are not, what can we expect him to innovation, let alone even make a difference for the community has. Of course lead to students not to tell the truth are many reasons, but as teachers and have a bounden duty. Because we often neglect in teaching students to speak the truth of the phenomenon, had students tell the truth, as we look to be it for adults, to impose some adult thoughts, feelings and ideas, and even the students viewed as heresy, be mercilessly criticized and even scold the students which also tell the truth. Such as teaching in such a composition, due to adopt different levels of teaching, class information is used varies. Thus, a student-pin phenomenon expressed their views and opinions, he thinks this is discrimination against poor school students, for expressing dissatisfaction with the school, the composition can be described as passionate, Bifeng sharp, expression and writing of all its like the flu. Logically speaking, this is a masterpiece compared to other students for more creative writing, because it dared to speak the truth and courage in itself an innovation. Regrettably, however, this composition is not as good writing. This is actually a kind of creative students killed. Meanwhile, in teaching, the teachers in order to pass examinations, often unconsciously, to guide the students: Thought to be healthy and shows to be lofty. Students to follow such a high score had to turn some of stereotype, to write the truth come? Therefore, teachers in writing instruction, it is necessary to promote students to speak the truth, to encourage students to tell the truth, for students to create a telling the truth and express the truth of the platform. To truly show his emotions and writing, publicity personality mirror, so that students would like to laugh burst into laughter, cry on your tears. Of course, we promote students to speak the truth, not to say that students have to say in the composition is really on the line, no lead. In short, to encourage students to speak the truth, is to train students in creative thinking should be an important way. third, respect for individual student focus on the development of personality and creative spirit, this is "standard language lessons," Teaching Composition as a basic requirement. Individuality and innovation has never been isolated, they are twin brothers, there is no innovation without personality, personality is the precondition for innovation. "Class standard" that "writing is the use of written language to express and exchange is an important way to understand the world better understanding of themselves, the process of creative expression." As students the difference between family background, differences in living environment, together with their differences in experience, so students will inevitably vary widely expressed. This shows that the essay itself should be diversity. Is not empty talk, lying on the composition of which is the minimum requirement, and write a personal, creative writing is the key to writing. However, due to the impact of exam-oriented education, students have become great writing and personality, nothing to do with things spiritual. In order to get high marks in examinations are not willing to express their thoughts and feelings, reluctant to use their own language, for fear of their own ideas immature, immature. Results of student activity ideas and distinct personality are under a lot of repression. The same topic, the Great Wall and the river north and south of students write exactly the same, or even parents lament: how today's students to write the essay is a replica of our time? When we keep a cool head, this is not what we have long formulaic composition teaching, dogmatic, processes the results? So that should have been lively, with the Aura into a boring composition class, students dislike, avoid disaster classes. lesson not to make writing can not be blown into a pool of stagnant water ripples of despair, in composition teaching individual students must be fully respected, so that writing classes to become a platform for display of individual students. This requires us to introduce the students in the teaching of life, to develop their observation of life and ability perception of life, because life is the source of literary creation, is also a source of student writing. Free Writing at the same time also increase efforts to reduce red tape bound composition requirements, through the diaries, essays and other flexible forms of individual students can 张扬. Another evaluation system should be open, to promote individuality. Change in the composition process of assessment, less deductions, such as some non-meaningful "center is not clear, conception is not new," putting a big hat. Affirm her individuality, and encourage more exchanges with other students. Through individual exchanges, so that students can see their strengths, experience the joy of success. Smart diversification according to principles of psychology can see, each student has their own strengths. Features of the show, individuality, must make students aware of their value, stimulate interest writing, induced by the potential creativity. 4, flying imagination psychologist that "all creativity are inseparable from imagination." "Imagination is a representation of memory processing in the formation of a new image transform ways of thinking." Does not imagine there would be no innovation, imagination is the precondition for innovation, more creative energy. Teaching Composition in the form of propositions for reform, the creation of imagination, out of set thinking. Through imagination, the concept and image, concrete and abstract, present and future, science and fantasy cleverly together. Students can not only feel life today, tomorrow can be better prospects; can not only see the real self, but also to design future self. This thought process itself should be considered a creative work. "Without fail, only the unexpected." Imagine there is no ancient "flying" dreams, there would not be here today to launch manned spacecraft. As long as students are able to move my mind, good thinking, their creative thinking can be fully demonstrated, students will have been based on the surface of the image to create new. But the students to imagine a mobilized, just as swift relaxation of the free trade grassland; as the soaring eagle, a large Chin Hung way. Help develop writing ideas, so that students "see" farther and deeper, so that ordinary things enthusiastically, so that the image of ordinary rich aura to the article full of infectious, expressive. Once the idea of this free flying, it will bring great creativity to the students. Edison said "imagination is more important than knowledge", showing imagination constitutes an important factor in innovation. If we in composition teaching by guiding students to imagine that students will have a new life experience, innovation will be sprouting the seeds. composition teaching practice, we can continue to write, rewrite, building the future, etc., to the students the space of imagination, and guide students to think boldly, we will find students writing can be described as colorful, their bold imagination, rich and varied form of the language of rich personality refreshing. For example in my last, "My Uncle Jules" this class, students assume that couples encounter is the family wealth Philip million scenes used in the Le; to complete a "home" after the idea of two years after students and aquatic children meet the macro scenarios. A result, students write a lot of quite innovative writing, people lamented the charm of the flower of imagination. Meanwhile, the importance of divergent thinking training. Psychology is usually that the divergent type of thinking is the basic process of creative activity. On the same things, to guide students through various angles and the side of, the conclusions drawn diversity, access to new feelings and experiences. If in composition teaching, design? " Some Thoughts, "" Autumn in reverie, "" If there is no gravity the Earth "and other topics. Students to imagine making a visual mess, confused, you have to admire the imagination and creativity of students. In addition, the composition of reverse thinking in students. Things have complexity, diversity, this requires that we look to differentiation. Writing in the importance of teaching students the training of reverse thinking things will not only enable students to have a comprehensive understanding of the system, and avoid one-sidedness, but also enable students to write the novel, creative, article, to avoid writing formulaic problems. We can borrow the phrase, saying, saying to guide the students thinking differently. Such as the design, "" A man is known 近墨者黑 "new solution" "On the face of adversity train qualified personnel" and other topics. Students are able to write some points unique, novel insights masterpiece. This will not only help students get rid of the restrictions set thinking, but also for the students wings of imagination, more creative the students savings of power. Of course, we here advocated bold imagination, not to the students in your head, which requires correct guidance of teachers. This article comes from [the website of Education] www.5udoc.com collection and sorting, to thank the original author. / Center>


text:
You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your ReverbNation experience.
"Kyle's music is wonderful, honest and from the heart....."
"..rough around the edge, silky vocals."
"...modern acoustic soul-rock tunes and a big voice that's been heard all over town"
"With a stirring style that tackles bold dynamics (lyrically, vocally and instrumentally)...mixing subtlety with fire. The result is a smart, vulnerable, sexy ride..."


text:
Now Playing
Podcasts & RSS Feeds
|All Content
|View all podcasts & RSS feeds
Most Active Stories
- Is the Bay Area in a housing bubble or a housing crisis?
- Mission High and Bi-Rite Market partner in a neighborhood divided
- Robotic seals comfort dementia patients but raise ethical concerns
- Robots for humanity: how technology is changing the life of one Bay Area man
- Audiograph's Sound of the Week: The Church of Coltrane
Connect with Us
KALW People
Now Playing
Participation Nation
Art Of Mentoring In Minneapolis
Originally published on Thu September 20, 2012 8:33 am
Cross the Mississippi River on Saint Paul's Marshall Avenue and it morphs into Minneapolis' Lake Street — a colorful kaleidoscope of cultures.
As Lake Street's collection of murals grows, so does its sense of safety, beauty and community — thanks to groups of artist-activists.
Chicano artist Jimmy Longoria and his organization, Mentoring Peace Through Art, is one such group. The team paints local businesses with murals, Jimmy says, "embracing huge spans of wall, every inch covered in a jungle of graffiti-deterring, ribbony paint."
MPTA's goal: to "foster youth leadership through art projects, forge strong communities and fulfill expectations that art works."
Allison Muotka is an intern at MPTA. She listens to The Current.


text:
Just a heads up.
There is a yellow jacket nest in a fallen log on the upper portion of Explorer Loop at Bent Creek. If you are climbing up the steep, rutted out section from the intersection of regular Explorer and Explorer Connector (heading towards Chestnut Cove), you get to a small creek crossing. The log/nest is right at the creek crossing on the right side (downhill) side of the trail.
Results 1 to 20 of 20
Similar Threads
Hot Deals See All Hot Deals >>
Interbike Featured Booths
Check out the hottest mountain bike products from these brands!
See All Interbike Coverage - Click Here »
Latest Mountain Bike Articles
MTBR on Facebook


text:
I fermented in a bucket.
I washed the bucket, let some cleanser sit in it for a week. Next brew day I santized it and re-used it. The next beer (a bitter) still smells a bit like a Saison.
The bucket now says "for Saison use only".
Lesson learned.
...or maybe you let the fermenting temperature get a good bit too high on the newer beer, and it created some funky off-flavors? Saison yeast is no more resilient than any other strain...
Don't think that is it, I controlled my temp to 62 when I fermented. Interesting both of you had no issues. No big deal for me just to use the bucket for Saison's though, they are relatively inexpensive, the beauty of using buckets.
I've been using the same buckets for years brewing many different styles and like the others I have never had one beer resemble a prior beer because of a bucket or the yeast strain used
No issues here either. I think it's just you
What strain did you use? 3711? What was the FG?


text:
To many to list. Somewhere in south Asia is big on my list, a Nepal/India trip would be excellent.
Sydney

Angola

Argentina

China

one of the worthy destination is India too...
Scotland and Ireland. Washington state, Alaska, Canada
There a cruise ship that you can live on like a time share I think... Well each night you go to sleep in one country and wake up in another country. I would like to travel the world by air and sea.
Mesa Verde

Pompeii

Tikal

Petra

Pyramids of Giza

Taj Mahal

Easter Island

The Great Wall

Aurora Borealis

Serengeti

Iguazu Falls

Machu Picchu

The Louvre

Zen Garden of Kyoto

Uffizi Gallery

Fallingwater

Yangtze River

Antarctica

Mount Kilimanjaro

Grand Canyon

Pagan

Parthenon

Angkor Wat

Ephesus

Venice

Amazon Rain Forest

Great Barrier Reef

Galápagos Islands
I want to backpack around Europe when I get out of collage. I'm already saving money.
Spain, Japan, India, Egypt.
Easter Island--known as Rapanui. I don't know why--just appeals to me. And if I'm going there, I may as well stop off at the Galapagos Islands.
Related Questions
greatchat12 26-30, M 6 Answers 1 Oct 9 in Travel
Where are the best places to travel to in Asia? Have you ever traveled to an Asian country, do you live in one? Or doyou like me hope to visit Asia someday? What's your experience been like with travel?livelively22 18-21, F 1 Answer 0 Nov 27, 2013 in Travel
For a first time traveler, What are some nice places/countries to visit? I'm American. I want to travel some in 2014.
What are some great places to travel too? I'm going to travel the world one day and I need a few ideas on where to start
Anyone else feel like they are going nowhere? Anyone else get the strong urge to travel and see new places?Bakerdylan23 18-21 5 Answers 3 Mar 21, 2011
I wana travel somewhere but not too sure where. Any places youve been to you would like to recommend?summersunn 18-21 7 Answers 1 Jul 27, 2011


text:
Baby #3 - Hoping It Sticks!
Find a Conversation
Baby #3 - Hoping It Sticks!
|Mon, 08-08-2011 - 9:27pm
Hi mommies! I'm Becky, mommy to Noelle (3), Chloe (2), and wife to DH Tony.
|Tue, 08-09-2011 - 9:07am
Welcome to the board and Congratulations on your pregnancy!! :) Happy and Healthy 9 months to you!! I hope you enjoy your time here!


text:
PlayStation 3
This is a split board - You can return to the Split List for other boards.
No game series is more overrated then MGS
Uncharted series would beg to differ.... in terms of overrated piles of garbage Uncharted 2 is the king of it.
Here comes a New Web Comic for gamers, BY a gamer, Critique is welcomed as long as you are positive about it.
Are you skilled at the game? The controls are very easy about after 10 minutes of getting acclimated with them.
This is how it's supposed to be done.
necro00 posted...
Played the HD collection. Found all of the games boring and with awful controls. Story was out there too nothing redeeming about these games IMO. What's all the praise for?
This topic is overrated. MGS is the greatest piece of entertainment ever created.
Batman games are the most overrated the way i see it. The fighting system isn't good or fun at all, and you're just jumping around the other time.
I think if it was the same game but without Batman, most people wouldn't like it.
Also Assassin's Creed, they're kind of the same-ish. And way overrated.
MGS 2 has crappy controls because of the camera, but 3 and Peace Walker are alright, also they can be quite fun.
"I am come."
Final Fantasy
[Expletive deleted at request of Gamefaqs]
P.o.I.: you may know me as; "Zanzibar Man", "----824", or "Sam Yargo".
JerichoDarkstar posted...
Habefiet posted...JerichoDarkstar posted...
I liked the part where you said we can throw objectivity out the door and then went on to say that it's a fact that it's good. Nicely done.
"Good" is a subjective quality assessment. Sales do not mean good. Popularity does not mean good. Longevity does not mean good. They support your personal definition of good.
I also like how you ducked my question, but glad to know that based on your criterion Twilight is objectively good, or at least good on the objective standards by which you allow yourself to rate goodness.
... I mean do you seriously not recognize that you completely contradicted yourself by saying that we can't objectively rate games and then claiming the games are objectively good based on objective criteria
[Expletive deleted at request of Gamefaqs]
P.o.I.: you may know me as; "Zanzibar Man", "----824", or "Sam Yargo".
Devil875 posted...
Batman games are the most overrated the way i see it. The fighting system isn't good or fun at all, and you're just jumping around the other time.
Wrong I guess, sleeping dogs uses a quite similar combat system and many people think it's better than a couple of sandbox games out there
Besides, the fighting system isn't by any means the best feature that game has to offer
Ummmm, every Zelda game ever would like to have a word with you.
And then a handful of people discovered what it's like to encounter disagreeing opinions to their own.
As gamers get older there's an expectation for games to mature with us, but the fact remains that simple fun with friends will never go out of style


text:
HBO's John Oliver did what many others in the media have not by shining a spotlight on the shadowy influence of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). But ALEC's latest initiative, which has its sights set on molding county and municipal governments, has deeper aspirations than even Oliver's show explored -- and has been almost entirely ignored by the media.
ALEC is an organization funded mostly by corporations and conservative organizations, whose purpose, according to Fortune magazine, is to "bring business-friendly state lawmakers together with lobbyists for corporations." ALEC drafts model legislation designed to push conservative corporate agendas at the state level and does not shy away from boasting about its outsized influence on local lawmakers.
The rash of discriminatory voter ID laws popping up across the country in the past couple of election cycles was largely fueled by ALEC. This year, the group has seen success dismantling clean energy standards.
On Last Week Tonight, John Oliver described ALEC succinctly as "a conservative bill mill which has helped develop model legislation from Arizona's notorious SB 1070 immigration bill to bills expanding private prisons, payday loan companies and for-profit colleges":
OLIVER: It's basically a conservative bill mill which has helped develop model legislation from Arizona's notorious SB 1070 immigration bill to bills expanding private prisons, payday loan companies and for-profit colleges, all of which we've talked about on this very show. In fact, I'm going to list ALEC in the credits for our show as associate producer of creating horrifying things for us to talk about. Great work, ALEC! See you at the end-of-season wrap party, you pieces of shit.
The thing is, ALEC is everywhere. Roughly 1 in 4 state legislators are members, and it's not hard to see why. ALEC makes their jobs troublingly easy. Here's their model electricity freedom bill, which at one point says, "be it therefore enacted that the state of, insert state, repeals the renewable energy mandate." So, as long as you can remember and spell the name of your state, you can introduce legislation.
One reason the group has been able to remain relatively free from public scrutiny is that the media has traditionally failed to cover the connections between ALEC members serving in state legislatures and the ALEC model legislation influencing the bills they introduce -- an issue so blatant that, as Oliver points out, occasionally text is lifted word-for-word from ALEC model bills.
The good news is that over the past couple of years, ALEC's operation has been more frequently exposed to the light of day, and the group has seen sponsors scamper away as a result.
The bad news is that ALEC is expanding its influence to a hyper-local level, which even Last Week Tonight overlooked.
In August, ALEC launched an initiative to take its model legislation beyond statehouses and into city councils and county commissions. This new spinoff, the American City County Exchange, "will push policies such as contracting with companies to provide services such as garbage pick-up and eliminating collective bargaining, a municipal echo of the parent group's state strategies." The corporate influence of the initiative is poignantly illustrated by the group's membership fee disparity: Local council members and county commissioners are required to pay a nominal $100 for a two-year membership. Meanwhile, prospective private industry members must choose between a $10,000 and $25,000 membership fee.
According to a search of the Nexis database, only a tiny number of print news outlets have reported on the new initiative. And as local media outlets face extinction or the possibility of being gobbled up by billionaire media moguls, it falls to the larger outlets that remain to lead the way.
The Wall Street Journal editorial board defended the corporate bill mill American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in an editorial whitewashing the organization's climate change denial and vindicating their one-sided attacks on renewable energy.
This week, several large technology companies have left ALEC, which connects corporations, including many fossil fuel giants, to legislators. Just weeks after Microsoft ended its ties to the corporate bill mill for its attacks on renewable energy policies, Google chairman Eric Schmidt announced in an interview with NPR's Diane Rehm that his company would not renew its membership with ALEC, stating that ALEC is "literally lying" about climate change and that its policies are "really hurting our children and our grandchildren and making the world a much worse place." Facebook, Yelp, and Yahoo quickly followed.
In response to the fallout, The Wall Street Journal defended ALEC and demonized Google in a September 26 editorial, claiming that "ALEC takes no position on the substance of climate change." This echoes ALEC's recent statement refuting the claims of climate change denial and defending their position on climate and renewable energy policies.
But throughout the years, ALEC has made their denial of the scientific consensus on climate change clear. Their climate change model bill -- one of many bills that the legislative members later push through state legislatures -- declares that "human activity" may lead to "possibly beneficial climatic changes," going on to say that climate change influences "may be beneficial or deleterious." Yet consensus reports have found that the negative impacts of global warming will far outweigh any potential benefits. This falls in line with ALEC's stance on the consensus itself -- at its most recent conference, the organization featured the Heartland Institute's Joseph Bast who claimed that "there is no scientific consensus on the human role in climate change." The organization also featured a document called "Top 10 myths about global warming" on its website for years, including as a myth that "human activity is causing the earth to warm," according to Forecast the Facts and the Center for Media Democracy. And in their most recent statement on climate change, ALEC continued to undermine the consensus, writing: "Climate change is a historical phenomenon and the debate will continue on the significance of natural and anthropogenic contributions."
None of this was mentioned in the Wall Street Journal editorial.
The Wall Street Journal went on to defend ALEC's nationwide attacks on renewable energy, another driving force behind Google and others dropping their membership. The Journal derided Google's many investments in wind and solar projects for "kill[ing] birds," an argument that falls flat. Statistics show that renewable energy's impact on bird deaths is miniscule compared to that from buildings, urban light, cell phone towers, and even cats -- and is far outstripped by bird deaths from other energy sources, as seen in this chart by U.S. News and World Report:
Ohio may soon become the first state to freeze its clean energy mandates after a relentless effort from utilities. But the state's major newspapers continue to overlook that the legislators behind the bill are members of the American Legislative Exchange Council -- an organization that connects corporations, including fossil fuel interests, to legislators -- despite repeatedly quoting the organization's members.
Local media outlets across the country published uncritical reports highlighting a conservative influence group's so-called economic competitiveness report, despite criticism of previous editions of the report over its methodology and findings.
On April 15, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) published the 2014 edition of its annual "Rich States, Poor States" economic competitiveness ranking, which claims to be "a forward-looking measure of how each state can expect to perform economically." For the seventh consecutive year, Utah was given the top spot for future economic outlook in 2014; New York was ranked last, and has never risen past 49th place.
Local media outlets quickly picked up the report and mainly discussed their own state's rankings and the rankings of neighboring states. Conservative radio station WOAI in San Antonio, Texas, published a blog detailing the report; including a quote from co-author and Heritage Foundation economist Steven Moore whom WOAI referred to as an "ALEC analyst":
A conservative group says Texas is tops in the country in economic activity today, but the American Legislative Exchange Council warns that the state's economic performance in the future will be rocky, largely because state government is spending too much money.
"That wasn't the good budget," ALEC analyst Steven Moore told 1200 WOAI news about the budget approved by the Legislature in 2012. "Not withstanding [sic] all of the very good things that are happening in Texas, and with the very big increase in the size of the economy."
ALEC ranks Texas no better than 13th nationally in terms of future economic performance.
Despite the uncritical, often glowing, pick-up by local media outlets, ALEC's competitiveness report has received scrutiny in the past, mostly due to evidence showing that economic data does not comport with the results of their study.
Ohio's major newspapers cited sham think tank Buckeye Institute 44 times in six months, promoting the opinions of its conservative allies including the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the Koch brothers, and big tobacco. Despite these connections being well-documented, every article failed to disclose Buckeye's ties to ALEC and its funding from the Koch brothers and dark money conservatives.
In the wake of growing pressure on the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) -- a shadowy right-wing group dedicated to pushing a conservative agenda at the state level -- and the exposure of its agenda and tactics, will local media finally acknowledge its influence on state politics when reporting on new legislation?
The Guardian reported on December 3 that ALEC has lost the membership of "almost 400 state legislators" and the funding of "more than 60 corporations" due to the organization's connection to controversial "stand your ground" laws, which received scrutiny following the shooting death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin. In an effort to rebuild those relationships, ALEC is holding its States & Nation policy summit in Washington, D.C., this week. The event includes Republican legislators such as Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), as well as several governors.
Legislators and businesses from around the country will gather to discuss this year's model legislation, which, as the Center for Media and Democracy has highlighted, will run the gamut of policy areas including legislation "opposing U.S. consumers' rights to know the origin of our food," "undermining workers' rights," "stripping environmental protections," and "limiting patient rights and undermining safety net programs." The last category includes legislation to turn Medicaid into a block grant program, similar to the proposal that Ryan has offered in his budget proposals.
State and local media outlets in the past have often neglected to identify ALEC-influenced legislation and failed to report on their state legislators' involvement with the group. A new wrinkle proposed this year by ALEC, however, directly affects state legislators. The Kansas City Star highlighted a document that was published by The Guardian that, although not adopted, would have required state chairs to take a loyalty oath: "I will act with care and loyalty and put the interests of the organization first." As Star columnist Barbara Shelly wrote:
What? These are elected officials. They are to put the interests of their states and constituents first. Apparently at some level people realized that, because the draft job description was never adopted. But the very suggestion demonstrates ALEC's eagerness to control these lawmakers.
As legislative sessions begin next year, will state media outlets begin to question legislation offered by their state representatives, especially those who are known to be members of ALEC? Will state media outlets question their ALEC state chairmen about the loyalty oath and whether they are putting the interests of ALEC interests above those of their state and constituents?
ALEC's renewed push has essentially given local media a second chance to identify ALEC's influence in their states and potentially identify the corporate interests behind several pieces of legislation affecting their readers.
Media figures are falsely claiming that Florida's controversial "Stand Your Ground" self-defense law played no role in the trial of George Zimmerman for the killing of Trayvon Martin.
In the wake of Zimmerman's March 2012 killing of Martin, media attention turned to the role of Florida's "Stand Your Ground" (also known as "Shoot First" or "Kill at Will" statute). That law allows a person who believes his life or safety is in danger to use deadly force in self-defense without being required to retreat as long as they are not engaged in illegality and are attacked in a place they have a right to be.The law also allows for a defendant to seek an expedited pretrial hearing on those grounds, and grants people who kill in self-defense immunity from civil lawsuits.
The statute was drafted with the help of the National Rifle Association. After Florida passed the law in 2005, it was adopted as model legislation by the American Legislative Exchange Council and nearly two dozen states passed similar legislation. Such laws have been found to increase the rate of homicide and have a racially disproportionate impact on black victims.
After Zimmerman was found not guilty of murder in the death of Martin, gun violence prevention advocates again highlighted the role of Florida's self-defense law. But some in the media, due to a misunderstanding of the statute's breadth, have falsely claimed that the law played no role in the trial.
On the July 15 edition of CNN's New Day, co-hosts Chris Cuomo and Kate Bolduan agreed that the law played no role in the case.
In fact, Florida's self-defense laws set the framework by which Zimmerman was tried, setting the standard by which the jury would have to determine if Martin's death resulted from the justifiable use of force. Indeed, the jury instructions in the case specifically mention that "If George Zimmerman was not engaged in an unlawful activity and was attacked in anyplace where he had a right to be, he had no duty to retreat and had the right to stand his ground" and use deadly force.
The Columbus Dispatch endorsed a proposal to make filing a petition for a referendum harder, only two years after a ballot measure shot down an anti-union law the paper supported.
In 2011, Ohio's Republican majority enacted Senate Bill 5, which drastically restricted the collective bargaining rights of public workers in Ohio. In the aftermath of the bill's passage, a petition was successfully established to get the bill overturned using the referendum process for the following election. The bill was overturned by an overwhelming majority in a victory for Ohio public workers.
The Columbus Dispatch's editorial board came out in favor of the anti-union law, continually reminding readers it supported restricting union's rights. The paper initially took the line that it supported the premise behind the bill but called for a compromise on collective bargaining before the referendum, Issue 2, was established. However, after the deadline to fix the bill passed, the editorial board wrote another editorial in support of Issue 2 and reminded readers the day before the election that it endorsed Issue 2.
Now, two years after the defeat of Issue 2, the editorial board has come out to support a measure that would make it more difficult to get referendums on the ballot. The Dispatch endorsed a recently enacted bill which would limit the amount of time a group has to get an issue on the ballot, giving them only 10 additional days to collect more signatures if the petition is not granted the first time. From the Dispatch:
While one can debate exactly what limits are reasonable, a uniform limit does not violate Ohioans' right to place issues on the ballot, it simply ensures that all are subject to the same rule.
Reasonable limitations on the petition process protect us from chaos.
The Wall Street Journal has repeatedly supported the conservative call for states to cut income taxes in order to foster economic growth, ignoring a large body of evidence that shows cutting or eliminating income taxes is economically damaging.
In recent months, The Wall Street Journal has published opinion pieces in support of Republican governors' push to reduce or eliminate state income taxes.
A January 30 editorial claimed that eliminating state incomes taxes "makes sense," arguing that it would spur economic growth and bolster state revenues. Economist Art Laffer and Wall Street Journal editorial board member Stephen Moore reiterated that thinking in a March 28 opinion piece titled "The Red-State Path to Prosperity," which argues for - among other measures - "pro-growth tax reform" that hinges upon a reduced reliance on income taxes.
Both pieces ostensibly rely on research conducted by the corporate-funded, right-wing American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Both Laffer and Moore have published research jointly with ALEC, and the January 30 editorial directly references Laffer's ALEC research. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), ALEC's studies on state-based tax reform are heavily biased toward states with low taxes and often do not comport with broader research findings:
ALEC's studies and reports claim that its agenda would boost economic growth and create jobs, but they are disconnected from a wide body of peer-reviewed academic research on public finance.
In addition, the preponderance of mainstream research refutes core elements of ALEC's argument, showing that state tax cuts or lower state taxes generally do not boost the economy, state tax cuts do not pay for themselves in the form of higher economic growth that generates more revenues, progressive taxes and corporate taxes do not inherently damage the economy, and taxes generally do not cause people to flee a state. (emphasis added)
Indeed, a recent review conducted by CBPP reinforces the lack of validity in ALEC and WSJ's claims -- of the eight peer-reviewed studies on the effect of state-level personal income taxes on the economy since 2000, six have found insignificant effects, and one had internally inconsistent results. CBPP also found that in states that cut taxes the most in the 1990s, average annual job growth fell far below the national average in the following economic cycle.
The Kansas City Star failed to note the significant influence of Koch-funded conservative groups in its coverage of two bills seeking to roll back Kansas' green energy standards.
A recent report by Greenpeace's Connor Gibson outlined several organizations that are influencing the debate surrounding an effort to repeal Kansas' green energy standards. As Gibson notes in his report, groups with significant ties to the fossil fuel industry and funded by billionaires Charles and David Koch, including the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council, the State Policy Network, and the Beacon Hill Institute, are trying to influence legislators to roll back green energy standards in Kansas. From Greenpeace:
ALEC and a hoard of other Koch-funded interests operating under the umbrella of the State Policy Network have hit Kansas legislators hard with junk economic studies, junk science and a junk vision of more polluting energy in Kansas' future. Koch Industries lobbyist Jonathan Small has added direct pressure on Kansas lawmakers to rollback support for clean energy.
Unfortunately, clean energy is not palatable to the billionaire Koch brothers or the influence peddlers they finance. All of the following State Policy Network affiliates (except the Kansas Policy Institute) are directly funded by the Koch brothers, while most of the groups get secretive grants through the Koch-affiliated "Dark Money ATM," Donors Trust and Donors Capital Fund, which have distributed over $120,000,000 to 100 groups involved in climate denial since 2002.
Despite the pressure these groups have placed on the repeal legislation -- including the author of a Beacon Hill Institute report attacking green energy testifying before the Kansas legislature -- The Kansas City Star failed to note these groups' influence on either of the two pieces of legislation making their way through the state legislature.
The Star only covered the legislation in two editorials (which did not express support for the repeal bill) and once in its news coverage over the last six months.
The paper also failed to put Kansas' green energy initiatives in context. Wind energy in Kansas is a booming industry. A fact sheet from the Natural Resources Defense Council found that renewable energy in Kansas has created more than 12,000 jobs and provided $13.7 million in annual lease payments and royalties to Kansas landowners. According to the American Wind Energy Association, after the adoption of the green energy standard, wind turbine manufacturer Siemens announced a $50 million investment in its first American wind energy manufacturing facility in Kansas. Even Republican Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback was a supporter of green energy standards. In 2010, while a U.S. senator, he co-sponsored a national version of Kansas' successful renewable portfolio standard with Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), which, if enacted, would have required 15 percent of utilities to be derived from alternative energy by 2021.
The Columbus Dispatch is criticizing journalists for not informing readers about a liberal group's vested interests and involvement in the state's political process, even though the paper has spent years obscuring the origins of the American Legislative Exchange Council and downplaying the group's influence in the state.
In a February 27 editorial The Columbus Dispatch wrote:
The ability of various interest groups to have a say in politics is a critical to our democracy. But just as voters should be aware of who is funding political ads, they should be informed of the vested interests of those groups that are cited as sources of commentary.
Policy Matters Ohio, with offices in Cleveland and Columbus, often is quoted in news stories as a "research firm" and as a liberal or "progressive" think tank in news stories concerning tax and budget issues. That description, though, doesn't give a full picture of an organization that has a direct interest in steering public money to labor groups, which in turn are big-money supporters of Democratic politicians.
The Dispatch's argument is disingenuous however, since the paper has failed to cover and conduct the same research for organizations heavily involved in state policy such as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).
From January to October 2011, the shadowy right-wing organization had its hand in 33 bills in the state, nine of which became law. ALEC's ties in Ohio run deeper than merely crafting bills. According to ALEC's internal talking points, Gov. John Kasich, who was actively involved in ALEC in multiple capacities before becoming governor, "helped mold ALEC in its formative years" and was photographed at an ALEC event in 2010.
In 2012, ALEC was responsible for several pieces of legislation in Ohio, including a bill that weakened protections for victims of asbestos exposure, a bill which attempted to loosen firearms laws, and a bill seeking to prevent disclosure of certain ingredients in fracking fluids to the public.
ALEC also has a role in pushing big business' influence with legislators in Ohio. According to the Center for Media and Democracy's ALEC Exposed project, 41 legislators in Ohio are ALEC members. The money ALEC receives from businesses and conservative organizations goes to bringing these legislators to ALEC conventions where they can "rub elbows with rich, out-of state potential donors ... and to build similar relationships with ALEC's state corporate members."
Despite ALEC's influence and major ties to the state, The Columbus Dispatch only discussed ALEC in 7 news stories since January 1, 2011, according to a Media Matters search. When they did cover ALEC, the organization was either not identified or described as a "conservative" or "a conservative think tank that raises money from corporate and other interests to pay for legislators to meet with businesses" -- monikers that barely scratch the surface of what the organization really does.
While it's important for newspapers to disclose the ties behind organizations that have an influence on policy in the state, The Columbus Dispatch editorial board is picking and choosing which organizations should receive such scrutiny -- apparently aiming to disclose information only about the ones it disagrees with.
The Charlotte Observer failed to connect the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to an attack on North Carolina's successful green energy mandates, which is being led by state Republican majority whip -- and ALEC member -- Mike Hager. From the December 31 article:
The N.C. House's new Republican majority whip believes he has the votes to stop North Carolina's green-energy mandate - the first in the Southeast when it was enacted in 2007 - in its tracks.
The law says electric utilities have to derive rising amounts of their retail sales from solar, wind or biomass sources, beginning at 3 percent this year and ending at 12.5 percent by 2021. Separate, smaller targets for solar energy took effect in 2010.
Senate Bill 3, as the law is commonly known, is widely credited with creating markets for renewable energy - especially solar power - that didn't exist in North Carolina before it was adopted. Advocates say it has produced thousands of jobs despite a slumping economy.
But Rep. Mike Hager of Rutherford County views the mandate as the government unfairly "picking winners and losers" in the marketplace. As chairman of the Public Utilities committee, Hager would like to freeze it at the current 3 percent level.
The article misses an important point -- that Hager is a member of ALEC, an organization described in the Observer (in an article re-published from the Anchorage Daily News) only a week earlier as a "secretive legislation mill that combines conservative thought with corporate interests." Hager's agenda regarding North Carolina's green energy mandates parrots one of ALEC's current nation-wide priorities. From The Washington Post (emphasis added):
The Heartland Institute, a libertarian think tank skeptical of climate change science, has joined with the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council to write model legislation aimed at reversing state renewable energy mandates across the country.
The Electricity Freedom Act, adopted by the council's board of directors in October, would repeal state standards requiring utilities to get a portion of their electricity from renewable power, calling it "essentially a tax on consumers of electricity."
The previously-mentioned Anchorage Daily News piece expounded upon ALEC's energy agenda as well, describing the efforts ALEC has taken in Alaska and other states to try to "roll-back" the renewable energy mandate by painting it as a "tax." From the ADN:
Nick Surgey, staff counsel for Common Cause, said one hot ALEC issue is an effort pushed by the coal industry and other traditional energy sources to roll back renewable energy targets and mandates adopted by some 30 states, including Alaska.
Backers of the roll-back call the targets a "tax" on power consumers who might have to pay more, at least in the short term, because the capital costs can be expensive. But supporters say they will reduce carbon emissions, establish 21st-century industries in the United States and make the country less reliant on imports.
The Washington Post noted that ALEC and Heartland "accept money from oil, gas and coal companies that compete against renewable energy suppliers." In fact, Hager has individually received campaign contributions from Duke Energy (his previous employer), Progress Energy (now merged with Duke Energy) and Dominion Resources, all of which are corporate members of ALEC.
While the Charlotte Observer provided balanced discussion of the mandates' costs and benefits, the paper's readership could benefit from an expanded vetting of special interest influences on North Carolina's state legislators.
In yet another year plagued by horrific instances of gun violence, the media was quick to react to tragedies by labeling gun violence prevention efforts futile on the basis of the alleged ability of the National Rifle Association to ruin the political careers of anyone who dared to stand in the way of its anti-gun regulation agenda.
Earlier this year, Slate's Brian Palmer typified this narrative with an article titled "Why Is The NRA So Powerful?" that suggested that the pro-gun organization "considered by many the most powerful lobbying group in the country" can "reliably deliver votes." In the wake of the Newtown school massacre, Slate republished the article verbatim. Also following the Newtown massacre, NBC's David Gregory and Fox News' Chris Wallace both suggested that politicians who favored gun violence prevention measures would face serious reprisals.
In making these claims, the media simply advanced a years old narrative suggesting the NRA wields unlimited political power without citing any actual evidence for that position. In fact, 2012 was a year full of indicators that the extent of NRA influence has been wildly exaggerated. The media should keep this in mind as they prepare to cover the NRA's press conference this morning responding to the Newtown massacre.
During the past year, the National Rifle Association was abandoned by political and business allies and spent nearly $18 million in a failed attempt to keep supporters of gun violence prevention out of Congress and the White House.
Even as the NRA's brand was deemed toxic by the shadowy American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative "model legislation" group, and faced withering criticism in the wake of the Newtown school massacre, the media myth has persisted that the NRA has the capability to punish politicians who oppose its extreme agenda.
Ohio's largest newspapers ignored the influence that gun lobby campaign contributions and the American Legislative Exchange Council may have had in pushing forward a bill that would that would loosen firearms regulations in the state. The proposal, which closely resembles ALEC model legislation, would allow gun owners to bring firearms and loaded clips into the parking lots under the state Capitol and require the recognition of out-of-state conceal carry licenses.
The Columbus Dispatch described Ohio House Bill 495, which has been pushed forward by an Ohio Senate committee:
House Bill 495 essentially would treat concealed-carry licenses like drivers' licenses -- if you have one in another state, it would be recognized in Ohio.
In addition, the bill would allow people without concealed-carry licenses to now carry loaded ammunition clips in their vehicles, so long as they are stored in a compartment separate from the unloaded gun. It also would allow people to bring their guns to the Statehouse or the Riffe Center parking garages on Capitol Square, as long as the guns remain in their vehicles.
The bill, pushed by the National Rifle Association and other Ohio pro-gun groups, also says that a concealed-carry licensee no longer has to demonstrate competency when renewing the license.
Current Ohio law bars those convicted of misdemeanor offenses of violence and drug offenders from obtaining concealed-carry licenses, and require applicants to demonstrate firearms safety competence. As many other states have no such requirements, residents of those states who would not be eligible to earn a license if they were Ohio residents would gain the ability to legally carry concealed if House Bill 495 were passed into law.
While the Dispatch noted that the gun lobby was pushing the bill, they failed to point out that this 'push' took the form of significant campaign contributions to one of the bill's sponsors, Ohio House Majority Whip John Adams (R), who is "the top recipient of gun industry money in Ohio's current legislature," according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Public Campaign, a group dedicated to reducing the role of special interest money in politics.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer fared no better in exposing gun lobby money. Its story quoted Senate President Tom Niehaus (R), who is responsible for bringing the bill to the floor, as supporting the bill. But thousands of dollars in political contributions to Niehaus from, among others, the NRA and the Buckeye Firearms Association, were omitted from the Plain Dealer's article.
Equally egregious is the fact that both publications completely omitted the influence of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a shadowy conservative organization behind the passage in many states of "stand your ground" laws that became infamous in the wake of the shooting death of 17-year old Trayvon Martin earlier this year. House Bill 495 closely resembles ALEC model legislation, the "Concealed Carry True Reciprocity Act," which states:
A person licensed or permitted to carry a firearm in any state whose laws recognize and give effect in that state to a license or permit issued under the laws of the State of {insert state} shall be authorized to carry a firearm in this state.
Twenty-three co-sponsors of House Bill 495 are or have been members of ALEC, including Adams, who chairs the group's Ohio arm. Two members of the Senate committee who approved the bill on Wednesday are members as well.
What's more, the Dispatch and the Plain Dealer reported that the Senate committee's initial proposal would have prevented Ohio universities from banning guns on campus, but this language was narrowed after concerns from officials at Ohio State University. The papers failed to mention that ALEC and the NRA have teamed up in the past to push for laws allowing firearms on campus, even after mass shootings devastated Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University.
A Wall Street Journal editorial echoed right-wing talking points to endorse an Ohio bill that would restrict asbestos victims from proving their claims at trial. But the editorial, which claims "rampant fraud" exists in asbestos-related litigation, provides no evidence of systemic abuse, conceals the fact that multiple companies can be legally responsible for asbestos injuries, and fails to disclose that the state legislation is a corporate-funded American Legislative Exchange Council bill pushed by top Republican ALEC officials.
Asbestos kills 10,000 people annually through cancer and catastrophic lung damage. Asbestos is still legal despite the fact that it is the proven cause of an ongoing epidemic, which is why companies that continue to produce or use asbestos may be sued for asbestos-caused disease. A victim can pursue legal relief against a bankrupt asbestos company by filing a claim against its trust. Personal injury law - tort law - generally holds that multiple actors can be legally responsible for the same injury and sued separately.
The WSJ, however, obscured this general tort principle in the editorial and misleadingly accused asbestos victims of "double-dipping" by filing claims against multiple companies who may all have contributed to the harm:
The [tort] reform drive remains alive in the states, including Ohio, which is poised to become the first in the nation to clamp down on the abuse of asbestos bankruptcy trusts.
[T]he trusts have not stemmed the flood of asbestos suits. That's because the plaintiffs' attorneys have taken to "double dipping"--first gaining payouts from multiple bankruptcy trusts, then filing lawsuits against solvent companies that had only a peripheral involvement in the asbestos business.
The reason behind the "flood" of asbestos suits is the heavy use of a product in the 1970s that has a latency period between 20 to 50 years, so many people who were exposed to the product are just now reporting the disease with a mortality peak expected in 2015. The WSJ, however, dismisses the litigation of these victims - projected to be as many as 100,000 in the next decade - as "rampant fraud." But the WSJ's evidence of a widespread "scam" consists of the actions of one lawyer's attempt to cover up an error the sanctioning court itself said was "innocuous" and "an obscure issue in a case fraught with dozens of more compelling issues." Furthermore, the WSJ does not explain why all or what sort of "peripheral" asbestos-caused harm should be insulated from liability, contrary to basic personal injury law.
Instead, the editorial repeats talking points of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in support of a bill not only modeled after ALEC legislation, but pushed by a Republican state senator, Bill Seitz, who was also co-chair of ALEC's "Civil Justice Task Force." After the bill passed the Ohio legislature, Lisa A. Rickard, president of the U.S. Chamber's legal arm, stated:
"This bill will go a long way toward eliminating fraud in asbestos litigation, discourage 'double dipping' by plaintiffs' lawyers, and ensure that companies and bankruptcy trusts both pay their fair share of recoveries to claimants. It will also help Ohio manufacturing companies and protect jobs by ensuring that companies are not bankrupted by fraudulent claims."


text:
Elixr: Teaching Strategies for Engaging Learners
This Elixir module contains case studies in text and video detailing student engagement strategies in five courses in the professional disciplines of Health, Nursing, Recreation Parks and Tourism, Hospitality and Tourism, and Media Production. The duration of all the video clips in a case ranges from 8 to 14 minutes. The first three cases address engagement strategies for smaller scale activities within a course. The last two cases address engagement in course projects. Instructors provide their... More
Material Type: Case Study
Technical Format: Flash
Date Added to MERLOT: March 10, 2010
Date Modified in MERLOT: February 24, 2014
Submitter: Joel Bennett
Keywords: pedagogy, innovative teaching, student engagement, digital storytelling, effective classroom practice, teaching, faculty development
Reviewed by members of Editorial board for inclusion in MERLOT.Editor ReviewVery good quality; in queue to be peer reviewedavg:
- User Rating (not rated)
- Comments (none)
- Learning Exercises (none)
- Personal Collections (9)
- Accessibility Info (1)
Primary Audience: College General Ed, College Lower Division, College Upper Division, Graduate School
Mobile Compatibility: Not specified at this time
Technical Requirements: Flash Player 9 or later
Language: English
Cost Involved: no
Source Code Available: no
Accessiblity Information Available: yes
Copyright: yes
Creative Commons:
This work is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States
This work is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States
Browse in Categories
Discussion for Elixr: Teaching Strategies for Engaging Learners
Log in to participate in the discussions or Register if you are not already a MERLOT member.