Dream Act defeat closes path to citizenship; ‘dropout factories’ fail Hispanic students

By Turner McCullough Jr. | November 7, 2007 |

For some minority youth, ‘dropout factory’ high school doom is bolstered by the U.S. Senate’s push away from the Path to Citizenship. A recent AP Impact study concludes that 1 in 10 of every U.S. high schools is a dropout factory. This works out to 14 percent of all high schools/vocational schools in the United States. That’s an alarming statistic for a nation that banks on its intellectual prowess in the economic global marketplace for dominance.

The numbers grow even more distressing when minority figures are reviewed. There is a direct correlation between the high numbers of Hispanic dropouts and the travesty of the Senate’s failure to pass the Dream Act last week. Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, Opinion, Politics | No Comments

Wildlife panels at Burgess Falls State Park to detail Tennessee ecology, wildlife

By Christine Anne Piesyk | November 7, 2007 |

Tennessee plays habitat to much wildlife in the form of mammals, amphibians, fish, insects, trees, shrubs and plants. State Natural Areas are dedicated to preserving nature. Can you recognize a Tennessee flying squirrel, nuthatch, snapping turtle, maiden hair fern, sycamore, and a queen snake? Have you ever seen an American toad, great horned owl, alumroot and northern hemlock?

Clarksville artist Debbie Boen has been living a ‘wild life’ with such creatures for the past 21 months as she created and recently completed drawing the pictures for panels to be installed at Burgess Falls State Park in Tennessee. This artistic project required the rendering of three panels representing a woodland, lake and stream bank areas. Altogether, the panels illustrate 15 specific trees, 37 plants and flowers, 41 insects and 65 mammals, birds, fish and amphibians. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Issues, News | 3 Comments

SSA funding increase coming up for vote

November 7, 2007 |

Last week, key members of the House of Representatives and Senate met as conferees to reconcile their respective versions of the appropriations bill that includes funding for Social Security Administration - the fiscal year (FY) 2008 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill. The House and Senate conferees agreed to include the Senate version of the appropriation for SSA, which provides $9.871 billion for SSA’s administrative FY 2008 budget. This amount is $275 million above the President’s request and would allow SSA to:

• Hire about 250 more ALJs.

• Replace some of the several thousand positions lost in SSA field offices over the past two years.

• Increase hiring in DDSs to replace a loss of over 800 positions.

While this level of funding is not enough to eliminate the disability claims backlog, without this appropriation, the backlog will continue to increase and SSA service will worsen, as SSA’s staffing drops to its lowest level in over 30 years. This bill is very important to people with disabilities and their families! «Read the rest of this article»

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Peach Cobbler: ‘Scrumptious’ family fare with festive holiday style

By Michael Covington | November 7, 2007 |

This week, I thought I would share something that everyone can enjoy. Below you’ll find a recipe for a delicious peach cobbler. This recipe has been in my family for quite a while, and anyone who’s ever tasted it will tell you that it’s positively scrumptious.

It’s an easy recipe that anyone can make with a few simple ingredients that you may already have in your pantry. Now, I must warn you that my recipes often leave a lot of room for creativity and interpretation based on individual preferences. I truly believe that recipes are only guidelines and exact measurements get in the way of true creation. If you find that you’re stuck when preparing a recipe, go with what your taste buds are telling you. They’re always the greatest measuring tool in your kitchen.

Comments and criticisms are always welcome in my inbox. Feel free to drop me a line and let me know how the recipe turned out for you. Enjoy!

Best Regards,

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Sections: Arts and Leisure | No Comments