Stormwater Fee Suspension and Tax Pardons

The stormwater fee was already approved in the budget
for FY2015. What is the point delaying the implementation?

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - The Richmond County Neighborhood Association Alliance (RCNAA) is calling to its members to oppose a retail package liquor, beer & wine license to be used in connection with OK Wine & Spirits located at 2811 Tobacco Rd. The item will be discussed at the Commission session. Waiving tax fees for business and non-profit, giving more power to the administrator and suspending stormwater fee, for now, also are in the agenda.

Asian|Latino Communities Outreach Initiative

An estimated 122,000 people in Georgia are
eligible for the expanded DACA and DAPA 

ATLANTA, GA (PR) – In response to President Obama’s November 2014 Executive Order providing administrative relief for eligible undocumented youth and parents through the DACA and DAPA programs, Georgia’s premiere immigrant rights nonprofits – Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta (www.advancingjustice-atlanta.org) and the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (www.glahr.org) – are announcing a special partnership to provide education and outreach to Latino and Asian immigrants living in Georgia.  

Indocumentados en el Ajedrez Político

Click the image to read the report about CARI.

Activistas de los derechos humanos de los inmigrantes sostienen que la suspensión de la acción ejecutiva del Presidente no es más que una movida de ajedrez, donde la vida de los indocumentados son las piezas. Por otro lado, Barack Obama no es la "reencarnación" de Martin Luther King en el tema migratorio, sostienen. 

Expansion of Visas for Tech Spouses

179,600 elegibles the first year

WASHINGTON, DC (PR) – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director León Rodríguez announced that, effective May 26, 2015, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is extending eligibility for employment authorization to certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants who are seeking employment-based lawful permanent resident (LPR) status. DHS amended the regulations to allow these H-4 dependent spouses to accept employment in the United States.

Reducing Preventable Cancer

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) – The Georgia Regents University Cancer Center launched an initiative seeking to reduce the burden of cancer among minority and underserved populations in Georgia. Within the cancer-Community Awareness Access Research and Education initiative, modules will be created to concentrate on one or more cancers that are either preventable or may be detected early enough to improve outcomes. Each module will use trained community health workers to deliver evidence-based, culturally appropriate cancer education.

Acceso a Trabajo para Ex Convictos

ATLANTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - Si ha sido condenado por la Justicia ya no será motivo de exclusión cuando busque trabajo en Georgia. El gobernador Nathan Deal ha firmado una Orden Ejecutiva para prohibir el uso del antecedente criminal como freno a ser contratado para trabajar. Los solicitantes de empleo ya no deberán declarar en la petición si fueron o no condenados por algún delito. La excepción será para puestos laborales que requieran máxima seguridad.

Healthcare Savings

Georgians saved $420,400,964 since the Affordable Care Act was enacted in 2010.  In 2014 alone, 141,574 people with Medicare in Georgia saved $132,246,008 -- an average of $934 per Medicare beneficiary -- thanks to the Affordable Care Act closing the Part D prescription drug donut hole.  Use of preventive services under the health care law has also expanded among people with Medicare. In Georgia, an estimated 1,092,031 people with Medicare (including those enrolled in Medicare Advantage) took advantage of at least one preventive service with no cost sharing in 2014.  

Alcalde de Augusta Aspira Poder Real

Click to Play

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - El intendente de Augusta por el condado de Richmond Hardie Davis, en el monumento dedicado a la aspiración (Tower of Aspiration), exhortó a la comunidad a unirse en su deseo por más poder. Pidió que los residentes presionen a la legislatura de Georgia para que sancione una ley para que el alcalde pueda vetar las decisiones de la Junta Municipal (Commission) y que sea anulado el veto con 8 votos del cuerpo legislativo.

Obamacare: Miles Afectados por Error

WASHINGTON, DC (PR) - Casi un millón de asegurados al mercado de salud del ACA (Affordable Care Act/ Obamacare) forman parte de un error originado en la base de datos. Por consiguiente, el gobierno federal pide que la población no remita sus declaraciones de impuesto del 2014 por el momento. Quienes ya declararon probablemente deberán efectuar una enmienda.

Expansión de DACA en Foro

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - El intendente de Atlanta, Kasim Reed, formará parte de un foro durante el cual diferentes representantes de organizaciones comunitarias hablarán sobre la expansión de DACA. Tendrá lugar el viernes 20 de febrero de los corrientes a las 10:30 de la mañana en las instalaciones de la Asociación Latinoamericana. El evento es gratuito.

Productores de Cine se Organizan

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - Georgia no tiene motivos para envidiarle a California por Hollywood. Desde el año pasado la industria cinematográfica ha empezado a rodar con éxito en Atlanta y es conocida como Y'allywood o Yallywood. Pero la escasez de profesionales en filmotecnia sí ha generado dolores de cabeza a más de un productor de cine.

Ten Tips for Runners

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) – Running is one of the easiest ways to stay fit, but it’s not without dangers. With more than 1,000 participants signed up for the GRU Augusta Half Marathon and 10k on Sunday, Feb. 22, GRHealth Sports Medicine offers the following tips to help you prepare and avoid injuries.

Injunction Against Executive Action

WASHINGTON, DC (PR) – The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH) denounces yesterday’s decision by the federal district court in Brownsville, Texas granting a preliminary injunction in Texas v. United States, the 26-state challenge to the president’s administrative reforms of immigration policy. This preliminary injunction will delay the implementation of the president’s reforms – which include the expansion of deferred action for individuals who came to the United States as children and for parents of citizens and permanent residents – nationwide.

A New Bus Terminal for Augusta?

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - Richmond County Commission approved a resolution in support of a parking complex for passenger vehicles on the property located on Reynolds Street, across the Augusta Museum, between 5th and 6th Streets. Mayor Hardie Davis put a brake to Commissioner Marion Williams in his attempt to filibuster. He was the lonely nay vote. 

Emergency Declaration for North Georgia Counties

Governor's move opens up state resources for disaster preparedness in areas expecting ice

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - Acting on a recommendation from the state's Emergency Operations Command, Gov. Nathan Deal signed an executive order to declare a state of emergency for disaster preparedness for the 15 North Georgia counties under a winter storm warning and will ask state workers in affected areas who are not involved in emergency response to work from home.

National Week of Action for DACA

WASHINGTON, DC (PR) – After weeks of repeated attacks from anti-immigrant leaders and multiple votes in the House and Senate to repeal the President’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) programs, immigrant families, faith, labor, small business, and elected officials are holding more than 50 “Ready for DACA” and “Ready for DAPA” events over the Mid-Winter congressional recess targeting Members of Congress while they’re home in their districts.

The Future of Apple

OTTAWA (PR) - The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) and the Society for a GE Free BC are raising the alarm after learning that the US government has approved the first genetically modified (GM) apple.

“The Canadian market needs to remain closed to this GM apple,” said Lucy Sharratt of CBAN. “Health Canada should not approve this apple. Consumers and farmers simply don’t want it on the market.”

School Recycling Program

THOMSON, GA - Precision Waste Services and Keep Columbia County Beautiful officially launched their school recycling program this week at River Ridge Elementary School in Evans, GA.

Food and Drug Seeks $4.9 Billion for FY 2016

WASHINGTON, DC (PR) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is requesting a budget of $4.9 billion to protect and promote the public health as part of the President’s fiscal year (FY) 2016 budget – a nine percent increase over the enacted budget for  FY 2015. The overall request includes $147.7 million in budget authority for initiatives tied to several key areas, including the implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act and the management of critical medical products issues.

FLAIR Black History Month Talk

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Chapel Hill Shooting

ARAB AMERICAN MEDIA (Editorial Staff) - It took the mainstream media an entire day to report on a possible hate crime that claimed the lives of three Muslim students in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, of Chapel Hill; his wife Yusor Mohammad, 21, of Chapel Hill; and her sister Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19, of Raleigh, were all shot dead on Tuesday before their suspected killer turned himself in at 5 p.m.

Deputy Terminated

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) - On Tuesday, February 10, 2015, at approximately 8:00 pm, Deputies responded to an address on the 2800 block of Anne Street where it was alleged an off-duty uniformed deputy from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office was involved in the physical abuse of a 12 year old child.

Based on the information and evidence obtained at the scene and after consulting with the District Attorney's office; the deputy, now identified as Alton A. Walker was detained and criminal charges were pending.

Opposition to Net Neutrality

Big government can’t seem to keep its hands off of anything. The latest insult: President Obama and the Federal Communications Commission are going to take over the Internet on February 26th if we don’t do everything we can do to stop them right now. 

Farewall, K-9!

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) - In 2012, K-9 Max was donated to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office as a fully trained explosive K-9 through a government program and K-2 Solutions, Inc.  As it became time to retire K-9 Max, his history was researched in an effort to possibly return him to his original handler.  It was learned that Marine Corporal Paul Robbins joined the Marine Corps Reserves in 2009 as a heavy machine gunner.

Workplace Fatalities on the Rise Again

The U.S. Department of Labor reported that U.S. employers added 257,000 jobs in January 2015, another month of strong job growth. The national unemployment rate is 5.7% and the Latino unemployment rate is 6.7%. Construction added 39,000 jobs last month, following an average of 28,000 jobs gained per month. Job growth in construction is good for Latinos, who represent one in four workers in the industry; however, trends in fatal workplace injuries for Latinos in construction are cause for concern.

Anthem Targeted by Cyber Attack

From the CEO's Desk: Safeguarding your personal, financial and medical information is one of our top priorities, and because of that, we have state-of-the-art information security systems to protect your data. However, despite our efforts, Anthem was the target of a very sophisticated external cyber attack. These attackers gained unauthorized access to Anthem’s IT system and have obtained personal information from our current and former members such as their names, birthdays, medical IDs/social security numbers, street addresses, email addresses and employment information, including income data. 

Augusta Cleans Up

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - Each neighborhood association is invited to chose a place to be part of a countywide campaign to beautify the city. The event is set for March 14, from 8 to noon. If that day rains it will be posponed for March 28. Many city agencies and departments are going to participate to join the effort announced during the meeting of the Richmond County Neighborhood Associations Alliance, Inc. Several issues also were discussed by 5 commissioners and senator Harold Jones (D-22) from transportation funding to education and healthcare.

Jill Stein Launches Exploratory Campaign For 2016

WASHINGTON, DC (PR) - At a Press Conference this morning, Dr. Jill Stein told the assembled media, guests, and a live TV audience tuning into C-Span that she is “testing the waters” and forming an exploratory committee to seek the Green Party nomination for President of the United States. More information about the exploratory committee can be found at Jill2016.com.

Shot 18 Times

Denver police officers shot and killed 17-year old Latina Jessie Hernandez as she drove a car full of her teenage friends. They shot her 18 times, then cuffed her hands behind her back and roughly dragged her limp body into the street, where she died.

Denver Police Department has a problem — shooting at a moving vehicle is against department policy, but their officers have done so four times in the last seven months, killing two people and injuring three.

Honoring Black History Month

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - "During Black History Month, we pause to honor some of history's greatest leaders, innovators, Civil Rights advocates, and public servants," said Georgia Republican Party Chairman John Padgett.

Childhood Vaccinations

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) – From car seats and baby gates to bicycle helmets and football pads, there are numerous ways to protect children as they grow. But one of the most important ways to protect them is by getting them vaccinated, says Dr. Dennis Murray, Chief of Infectious Diseases at Children’s Hospital of Georgia.

“Many life-threatening diseases have been practically eliminated today in the United States because of the development and implementation of vaccines,” says Murray. “Polio and smallpox are examples.”

¡Nadie se Beneficia!

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - El Jefe de Policía Richard Roundtree exhortó a la comunidad a unirse a la campaña “Nadie se Beneficia” (NO ONE WINS!), durante una rueda de prensa. En la oportunidad brindó algunas estadísticas sobre la violencia armada que impacta a la juventud que destroza a familias y crea un ambiente hostil en la ciudad. Se ha reducido la mortalidad pero no la tragedia, enfatizó.

Feria Rural de Trabajo

Una feria de trabajo organiza Costa Farms para el 10 de febrero de los corrientes, de 9 de la mañana a 1 de la tarde. Interesados deben presentarse en 2198 Edgefield Road, Trenton, South Carolina, 29847. Para ser considerado los solicitantes deben contar con dos formas de identificaciones y vestirse con pantalones largos y camisas mangas largas o cortas y zapatos, no zandalias. La empresa busca contratar conductores de montacargas, de tractores, mecánicos y trabajadores agrícolas en general.

GRU Launches Cyber, Health Sciences Summer Academies

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) – Georgia Regents University (GRU) will kick off two pilot programs this summer for current sophomore and junior high school students. Both the Health Sciences Summer Academy (HSSA) and the Cyber Sciences Summer Academy (CSSA), a residential educational experience, will be offered in two sessions, June 21-25 and June 28-July 2. Each program’s tuition is $500.

President's Budget Applauded

Latinas remain concerned about immigrant and low-income women

WASHINGTON, DC (PR) - Today, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH) applauded President Barack Obama for substantial investments in health and family economic security in the President’s FY2016 budget, while expressing concerns about restrictions on insurance coverage for abortion services and funding for immigration programs that tear families apart. The budget fails to lift the Hyde Amendment, a harmful policy that denies abortion coverage for women enrolled in Medicaid, and retains restrictions on abortion coverage for other women, including: Medicare enrollees, federal employees and their dependents, Peace Corps volunteers, Native American women, and women held in federal prisons and immigration detention centers. 

Marissa Alexander Released from Prison

Supporters of Marissa Alexander in Jacksonville, across the US, and all around the world are overjoyed that Alexander has been released from jail after serving 3 years behind bars for defending her life.  In 2010, Alexander, a black mother of three from Jacksonville, Florida, was forced to defend her life from a life-threatening attack by her estranged husband by firing a single warning shot that caused no injuries.  State Prosecutor Angela Corey prosecuted Alexander, pursuing a 60 year mandatory minimum sentence.  On November 24, 2014, Alexander accepted a plea deal that included time served of nearly 3 years in prison, 65 additional days in the Duval County jail, and 2 years of probation while under home detention.  Today marks the end of her time behind bars.

The TTP it is Like NAFTA on Steroids!

So much for “Middle-class Economics"

Politicians in the United States keep insisting they want fewer undocumented immigrants crossing the border into the US. But some, including President Obama, seem insistent on making life in Central and South America so miserable that people have little choice but to leave.