Voter Registration, Elections
Automatic voter
registration, a new reform that will modernize voter registration and dramatically increase registration rates, is gaining momentum
around the country. Ten states and the District of Columbia have already approved
the policy. So far in 2017, 32 states have introduced legislation to implement
or expand automatic registration (and one more state has an AVR bill that
carried over from 2016). A full breakdown of these bills, as well as those
introduced in 2015 and 2016, is available below.
Automatic voter
registration makes two transformative, yet simple, changes to voter
registration: Eligible citizens who interact with government agencies are
registered to vote unless they decline, and agencies transfer voter
registration information electronically to election officials. These two
changes create a seamless process that is more convenient and less error-prone
for both voters and government officials. This policy boosts registration
rates, cleans up the rolls, makes voting more convenient, and reduces the
potential for voter fraud, all while lowering costs.
Arts, Technology, Personal Development
Think of the most artistic people you know. Now, call to mind the geeks in your
circles--engineers, programmers and IT pros. The two camps are polar opposites,
right?
Not so fast. People with a background in music, theatre and
art are actually well suited for technical careers. That's according to Jacob
Smith, head of engagement and cofounder of Packet, a NYC tech company that provides cloud
infrastructure for developers and large enterprises. A professional bassoonist
by training, he played with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and various
opera companies before cofounding Packet in 2014. Here are his words on why
artistic training helps
kids grow into adults who rock at technology.
1. The best artists are disciplined.
An arts training helps build people that are self-driven,
self-motivated, and are constantly searching for ways to improve and stretch.
This is essential for tech innovation, where (just like in the Arts),
perfection is an unobtainable goal that you strive for while racing for that
new discovery around the next corner.
Food, Economy, Communities
Despite being an area rich in agricultural
knowledge, Letcher County is ranked nearly the lowest in
Kentucky for overall health factors and outcomes,
including access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and resources are scarce to
help feed young people and seniors. The local meal program for seniors has been
cut back so far that for years meals have been mailed to seniors from the
closest well-funded hub—in Iowa.
A new partnership between Mountain Comprehensive Health Corp., a local hospital, and the Community Farm
Alliance, a grassroots
organization that supports independent farmers, is helping remedy that.
Community Agricultural Nutrition Enterprises is a project that supports the
livelihoods of local farmers, increases access to fresh healthy food, and
improves health outcomes for Letcher and surrounding counties.
The intent is for CANE
to become a full-fledged community hub for nutrition, health, and wellness,
with a community kitchen, preschool day care, and medical providers all under
one roof—and it’s already well on its way.
Inspiration,
Hurricane Harvey, Heroes
(Video
included)
During the height of the flooding in the Houston area caused by
Hurricane Harvey, the Coast Guard and Texas Children’s Hospital coordinated “mission
impossible,” a plan to rescue 33 children with kidney failure who were
stranded throughout southeast Texas.
They
needed immediate transport to the hospital for dialysis; without it, they might
die.
Zaiden
lives in Bryan, Texas, about 100 miles from the hospital where he receives
treatment four times a week. Gardner, alongside three other Coast Guard
personnel, planned and executed the boy’s rescue by Blackhawk helicopter last
Tuesday, Aug. 29.
By
Wednesday morning, all 33 children in need had made it safely to dialysis units
at Texas Children’s Hospital and neighboring Children’s Memorial Hermann
Hospital, thanks to the daring mission.
Travel
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