"Protecting" Religious Liberty in Georgia

DULUTH, GA (PR) — The Georgia Baptist Convention (GBC) is calling on the Christian community to “stand up for biblical principles and fellow believers who are punished or marginalized for their faith.” The Duluth agency, which represents 1.4-million members statewide, felt called to respond to the recent 30-day suspension of Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran by Mayor Kasim Reed. The statement was issued by the GBC’s Public Affairs Committee on Dec. 9.

Indocumentados y la Declaración de Impuestos

El 20 de noviembre del 2014 el Presidente Obama anunció una acción ejecutiva en materia de inmigración que podría ampliar el alivio de la deportación a un estimado de 5 millones inmigrantes indocumentados. La administración no ha dicho qué tipo de documentación aceptará, sin embargo, creemos que las dependencias gubernamentales podrían requerir impuestos declarados por 5 años consecutivos, como prueba adicional de residencia, si los solicitantes afirman haber trabajado en Estados Unidos desde su llegada.

Tax Season Opens on January 20

WASHINGTON, D.C. (PR) - Following the passage of the extenders legislation, the Internal Revenue Service announced today it anticipates opening the 2015 filing season as scheduled in January. The IRS will begin accepting tax returns electronically on Jan. 20. Paper tax returns will begin processing at the same time.

Al Gobierno No Le Salen Las Cuentas

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO (Jesús Dávila) – El Gobierno de Puerto Rico se topó con un obstáculo inesperado cuando en un intento por conciliar las cifras de los recaudos del arbitrio al petróleo y sus derivados y tras un esfuerzo de 72 horas durante las cuales los números subían y bajaban sin control, se produjo la paradoja de que se anticipa un “aumento” que produce en total menos que antes.

Abuso de Ancianos: Problema Casi Oculto

LOS ANGELES (Araceli Martínez Ortega) - Cuando a Esther González, de 74 años, le limpiaban la bolsa plástica de recolección de sus heces, aseguró que sentía un empujón fuerte.

"Por favor, no me empuje", le dijo a la cuidadora que la aseaba en el asilo donde se encuentra. Como respuesta, esta inmigrante guatemalteca, recibió tres golpes en la pierna asestados con el gancho de la bolsa plástica.

Incoming Commissioners Take The Oath

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) - The Oath of Office Ceremony for Commissioners-Elect Ben Hasan, Sammie Sias and Dennis Williams will be held Monday, December 29, 2014 at 11:00 AM in the Lee Beard Commission Chamber, Room 200B, Municipal Building.

Histórico Bajo Precio de Gasolina

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - Por primera vez en años, el precio de la gasolina por galón ha reducido bajo la marca de 2 dólares en la ciudad y en Central Savannah River Area (CSRA). En Costco se ha ofrecido el combustible a $1.99. 

Congressman Grimm Lies and Deceptions

WASHINGTON, D.C. (PR) - Earlier today, United States Congressman Michael Grimm pleaded guilty at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, to aiding and assisting the preparation of a false tax return.  Since 2011, Grimm has served as a member of the United States House of Representatives representing New York’s 11th Congressional District, which includes the borough of Staten Island and parts of the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City.

2015: A New Year of Hope

By Shea Howell - As 2014 gives way, new energies are swirling through the country, bringing hope of real change based on values that respect life and the earth that sustains us. Much of this hope comes from the resistance of people to the dehumanization and destructiveness that have become ordinary in our country.

We Have So Much to Learn From Cuba

By Grace Lee Boggs - This was my first visit to Cuba and it was only for a week. My sense was that the Cuban people, by recommitting themselves to the struggle for socialism, are beginning to recover from the crisis caused by the loss of Soviet aid. In the process they seemed to be creating an alternative vision for Third World countries and perhaps even for deindustrialized cities like Detroit which must now rebuild, redefine, and respirit themselves from the ground up.

Alivio a Indocumentados Regirá en Febrero del 2015

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - En las instalaciones del Consulado General de México, se llevó a cabo un evento informativo sobre las medidas migratorias anunciadas por el Presidente Barack Obama los pasados 20 y 21 de noviembre. Fue organizado de manera conjunta con el Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de Estados Unidos (USCIS, por sus siglas en inglés) y la Comisión Federal de Comercio (FTC, por sus siglas en inglés).

Establishing Citizens Police Review Board

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - Here in Atlanta, there is a narrative fallacy that these protests have been unorganized, disconnected and without concrete outcomes in mind. That could not be farther from the truth. It is time to take back our story and our struggle. It is time to broaden our base. The national consciousness has been awakened- everyone from congressional staffers, to medical students, to athletes and celebrities have shown their solidarity.

A Victorious Year For Georgia Sierra Club

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - This year has been full of victories for the Georgia Chapter. Thanks to our members and supporters, we have made strides in securing solar energy for our state, expanding mass transit in Clayton County, and turning out the largest crowd of clean air and clean energy advocates in the country to encourage passage of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Power Plan Proposed Rule.

Impacto EE.UU-Cuba en Venezuela

EL CHULOCAPITALISMO: "Se Arroja Gasolina Sobre VeneCuba"

Por Agustín Blanco Muñoz - Las encuestas señalan que hasta el 80% de los votantes opinan que este expaís va por mal camino y sólo el 22% (hacia abajo) apoya a Nicolás Maduro. El fondo del descontento está en la difícil situación económica que padecemos y lo complicado que será salir de la misma con la caída de los precios del petróleo.

First Hispanic Superior Court in Georgia

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - Following Governor Nathan Deal's appointment of Dallas lawyer Dean Bucci to the Superior Court within the Paulding Judicial Circuit, the Georgia Republican Party issued the following statements:

Cuba-EE.UU: Sorpresa Indignante y Euforia Mundial

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Anibal Ibarra) - “Estados Unidos está dando pasos históricos al trazar un nuevo rumbo en nuestras relaciones con Cuba y además atraer y empoderar al pueblo cubano. Estamos separados por 90 millas de agua, pero hemos estado unidos a través de las relaciones entre la llegada de 2 millones de cubanos y los americanos de cubanos que viven en los Estados Unidos y los 11 millones de cubanos quienes comparten similares esperanzas por un futuro más positivo para Cuba.” empieza el comunicado oficial de la Casa Blanca.

Reports on African Heritage Delegation to Israel/Palestine

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) - Ajamu Baraka just returned from Palestine as a member of the “African Heritage” delegation which spent two weeks in Palestine between October 27 and early November. Mr. Baraka shared his observations and experiences, including the attack on the delegation by the Israeli army in the village of Bil`in, during his presentation “Peoples in Resistance from Ferguson to Palestine: A Report Back.”

Maduro Espera Respeto de Estados Unidos

El Presidente de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, aseguró –desde el Panteón Nacional, donde conmemoró los 190 años de la Batalla de Ayacucho- que no acepta las sanciones ni amenazas que el Senado estadounidense pretende aplicar a Venezuela, según el reporte oficial.

Utilities Customer Service and Tag Office Moving

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) - The South Augusta Tag Office located at 2029 Lumpkin Road and the Augusta Utilities Customer Service Office at 2760 Peach Orchard Road will serve its last citizens at their current locations on Wednesday, December 10th.

Anti-war Movement Silenced by Drones?

This week marks the 73rd anniversary of the last time Congress formally declared war – December 8th, 1941. As the U.S. escalates its latest military campaign in Iraq without Congressional approval, Liberty Tree Foundation president Ben Manski writes in Al Jazeera that the lack of major anti-war street protests in response signifies not consent, but rather a deliberate tactical choice.  Movement organizers, he argues, are in fact signaling to the government that they no longer believe that "Congress and the presidency can provide effective redress for the grievances of the American people."

In the Market to Park It?

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - Downtown that is. A community forum was held at the public library to gather feedback from businesses, workers and property owners regarding downtown parking management. The meeting was facilitated by Dr. Anthony Robinson from Georgia Regents University (GRU) and hosted by local government.

President Clements: Message to the Clemson Family

"At a time of year when our thoughts are turning to family, holidays and the start of a new year – all the things that unite us and bring us joy — it is discouraging that so many events and issues are causing division and hurt, and making many students feel unwanted at this great university. It hurts to read disrespectful and just plain mean comments in social media.  Last night’s “Cripmas” party, which the university did not sanction, raised more concerns about the campus climate. Clemson is better than this.

ACHA Renueva Directiva

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - La Asociación Cultural Hispanoamericana de Augusta (A.C.H.A.) ha renovado su directiva que servirá durante los años 2015 y 2016. El nuevo presidente del grupo que organiza anualmente el Festival Hispano, Edmundo Acevedo, informó que su administración será más incluyente al enfocar otros aspectos de interés comunitario, a más del festival.

Georgia Latinas Achievements Awarded

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - In celebration of the achievements and accomplishments of our nation's most inspiring Latina Tech and Business women, Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association (LISTA) Georgia Tech Council announced "Latinos/as Tech Forum and the Latina Tech and Leader Luncheon” on December 10th 2014 at the Georgia Tech Research Center in Atlanta, Georgia.  

Sheriff Rejects Unconstitutional Detention per ICE Requests

Georgia #Not1More Looks to Prevent Future Abuses

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - Members of the Georgia #Not1More coalition today announced the latest victory in their efforts to end unconstitutional detention per ICE detainer requests in Georgia. DeKalb County Sheriff Jeffrey L. Mann (Photo) has announced that, effective immediately, he will end submission to federal detainer requests, a centerpiece of the failed Secure Communities deportation quota program, without a warrant or other sufficient probable cause.

Congreso Republicano Planteará Inmigración

Por Anibal Ibarra - Los republicanos de Estados Unidos, indignados con el Presidente Barack Obama por frenar las expulsiones de millones de residentes indocumentados, propondrá una legislación en el 2015 para fortalecer aún más el control fronterizo entre México-Estados Unidos y con el fin de desalentar la inmigración ilegal. El informe fue proporcionado por la agencia noticiosa Reuters.

Justice Department Will Proceed Investigation

Statement by Attorney General Holder 
on Federal Investigation Into Death of Eric Garner

Washington, D.C. (PR) - "I want to provide an update regarding the case involving Eric Garner, a Staten Island resident, who died tragically in July. Since Mr. Garner’s death, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the Civil Rights Division and the FBI have been monitoring the local case closely while allowing the local investigation, led by the District Attorney’s office in Staten Island, to proceed first.

Getting Real About Transportation in Georgia

ATLANTA, GA (Edward Lindsey) - Let’s get real about transportation. We are at a crossroads. Do we step up and face our current challenge or do we allow this vital infrastructure to decay and fall further behind our present and future needs?

Georgia ranks forty-ninth in the nation in per capita transportation spending. In the Southeast, we spend only just over half what North Carolina and Virginia spend on transportation and 43% of what Florida spends even though we have more state road lane miles to maintain.

What Eric Holder, Georgia Democrats Forgot to Mention

ATLANTA, GA (Leo Smith) - On Monday, Attorney General Eric Holder hosted a town hall meeting at Atlanta's historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. I was on hand - not to participate in the round-table discussion with law enforcement, community leaders, and elected officials - but to engage with those in attendance and offer my support to Civil Rights leaders like Bernice King, Bill Harris and C.T. Vivian.

Stormwater Fee Approved

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) UPDATE 2/17/2015 - The Augusta Richmond County Commission voted in favor to put on hold the implementation of the stormwater fee (tax) already approved on the budget for FY 2015. Opposition from industries and churches apparently forced the Commission and Mayor Hardie Davis, a pastor himself, to change their minds. A public forum will be announced.

House to "Undo" President's Immigration Action

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AUC) - At long last, House of Representatives Republicans are finally going to vote on immigration. Just one problem. Instead of voting on the comprehensive immigration reform bill the Senate passed with bipartisan support over 520 days ago or any reform bill of their own, they’d rather vote to take a step backwards and undo the President’s immigration action that is having a meaningful impact on peoples’ lives.  

Rally for Living Wage in Atlanta

ATLANTA, GA (STANDUP) - Fast Food workers and allies from across Atlanta are gathering together on December 4 to fight for living wages, respect, and rights on the job. Join us as we build the fight for $15 Movement in the South.