Category: National
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Extreme Weather Exacerbates Homelessness in Australia and New Zealand
The images of Hurricane Harvey in Texas have shown how extreme weather can rob people of their homes. But what about those who have no home to begin with, or whose living situation is already precarious? Almost one-third of people who have been homeless have suffered extra trauma because of extreme weather, according to our…
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Evacuated Homeless Campers Return to Houston Overpass After Hurricane Harvey
Residents living in the homeless encampment under Houston’s 59 overpass got some good news recently when they received a temporary restraining order preventing the city from enforcing its anti-camping ban. The reprieve did not last long. Within 48 hours, the residents were forced to leave anyway, as Hurricane Harvey slammed into the region. The hurricane…
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Drop in food insecurity ‘not statistically significant’
Recently published Census data shows a modest dip in the overall household poverty rate in 2016, yet the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) said that progress has been “too little and too slow.” “While progress is good, it merely underscores that poverty in this country remains too high, particularly harming children,” FRAC President Jim…
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Teachers out in force to protest Betsy DeVos at Harvard
When Education Secretary Betsy Devos came to the Kennedy School of Government last week, she faced protesters outside the school as well as inside. The crowd outside included members of the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance, a coalition of teachers, parents, students, and civil rights groups. They were out front with signs and amplifiers making it…
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Boycotting the NFL Won’t Stop Police Brutality
On the day of the New England Patriots’ first game of the year, a friend asked me if I was going to watch it. I said, “Of course I am,” and he immediately began to lecture me on how I was betraying my people. (He was white, go figure.) As everyone knows—unless you’ve been in…
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Extreme Weather Events: ‘Let’s Talk About Them’
With residents of Texas and Louisiana struggling to recover from what has now been classified as the worst rain event in U.S. history, Bay Staters will soon have a chance to discuss and learn more about extreme weather events. Karen Price is environmental co-chair for the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts. The League is…
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Mass. Activists and Politicians React to Trump’s DACA Repeal
Update: As of Sept. 14, President Donald Trump and the Democratic party have worked closer towards a deal on DACA. Democratic leader Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Nancy Pelosi announced working on a deal with the President, though the President has both denied and confirmed reports of the deal. The details are murky, though it seems…
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Protesters assemble for Speaker Ryan’s Lawrence New Balance factory tour
Protesters in front of the Lawrence Train Station, on the opposite corner of the New Balance Factory. All photos: Alejandro Ramirez. Around 100 protesters gathered in front of the Lawrence, MA train station to protest U S. House Speaker Paul Ryan’s tour of the nearby New Balance factory. Many held signs supporting Obamacare and calling…
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Formerly homeless woman leads street backpack program in Nashville
Twelve years ago, Hurricane Ivan ripped through Jessica Thurmond’s neighborhood, destroying the house where she had been living. The 18-year-old in Florida was soon forced to live in her car while working multiple jobs. One of her jobs was at a gym, which meant she could use the facility’s shower and have a locker for…
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MassADAPT takes D.C.
Trumpcare is the Term the Media has Given to Donald Trump’s Version of Healthcare For the American People. Too Bad it’s not What the People of America Want. I went to Washington D.C. on Wednesday March 23, with four other members of MassADAPT, days before House Speaker Paul Ryan pulled the Republicans’ healthcare bill on…