Latest news with #LeagueofWomenVotersof
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
League selects LaFargeville student for 'Inside Albany' program
Apr. 27—ALBANY — The League of Women Voters of St. Lawrence County, which also has members in Jefferson County, has announced that Aveline Hellings, an 11th grader from LaFargeville Central School, has been chosen to attend this year's Students Inside Albany program sponsored by the League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation, Inc. A honors scholar, Hellings is the Student Council vice president and has attended two similar conferences, the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Conference in Albany and the 4H Student Government Conference in Jefferson County. "Aveline is someone who will not only represent our League with enthusiasm and distinction at the Students Inside Albany program, but will bring back first-hand information about how government works she can share with her peers. We are delighted to sponsor her for this prestigious League conference," St. Lawrence LWV president Kathleen Stein said in a news release. The 25th annual Students Inside Albany program is May 18-21 and will bring together 42 students from across the state to Albany to get a first-hand education about their state government. The program is designed to increase high school students' awareness of their responsibility in representative government and provide information about the tools necessary for meeting that responsibility. While at the conference, students will join their peers in a hands-on learning experience about how state government works. Students will participate in a series of interactive lectures on topics such as the state budget process, the role of lobbyists in the legislative process, citizen rights to access government information, the role of media in politics and the move to reform state government. Also while in Albany, participating students will also have an opportunity to tour the state's Capitol. The highlight for most students is the opportunity to shadow their senator and their assembly member for an afternoon session on the chamber floors. For more information on the St. Lawrence County League of Women Voters, visit its Facebook page. For more information on the League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation, Inc., or the Students Inside Albany program, go to
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New citizens from 63 countries take their oath at Rockford's Coronado Center
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — On Tuesday morning, Rockford's Coronado Performing Arts Center served as the gateway to the American Dream, as 319 people took their oaths of citizenship to the United States. The new citizens represent immigrants from 63 countries, from Afghanistan to Zambia. U.S. District Judge Ian Johnston, who has been a part of naturalization ceremonies for over a decade, presided over today's event. 'They have voted with their feet. They've left the country of their origin, where they had family, understood the culture, and understood the language, and they've decided and made the difficult decision that they were going to uproot themselves, come to the United States, and make their lives here. Which goes to show their courage, their determination, and how great this country is,' Johnston said. The League of Women Voters of Greater Rockford also attended the event to help the new citizens register to vote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Letters question how tariffs help, oppose making voting harder, ask drivers to slow down
Would someone please explain to me how starting a trade war with the intent of bringing all the manufacturing that moved overseas back to the US is going to be good for the average American? I don't claim to be any sort of economic genius, but with our cost of living and higher wages, including the benefit package that goes along with those wages, how is anyone going to be able to afford anything? When you watch a show like Shark Tank, anyone with a great idea is chastised if they mention they want their product produced in the United States. Without exception they are told the only way to be profitable is to have their product produced overseas, namely China. What's changed? Has Donald Trump suddenly found the magic solution? Are the respected economists who are sounding the alarm of where the economy is headed if this continues all wrong? I for one don't see how the math works, so if someone can please explain to me how it does, I'm all ears and more than happy to admit I'm wrong, but so far I haven't heard anything from anyone clarifying how this is a good thing. All I hear is just 'trust the process,' 'Trump knows what he's doing.' I'm sorry, but I'm a bit more skeptical than that and would like some real clarity, please, instead of just 'trust me.' Mark Turner, Olympia The League of Women Voters' mission is empowering voters, not suppressing them. Under current U.S. law, it is illegal for non-citizens to register and vote in federal or state elections. Additionally, we have robust processes to ensure that only eligible voters are casting ballots. However, Congress is about to vote on a bill that requires all eligible voters to provide citizenship documentation. Under this law, every single American citizen would have to show very specific documents, such as a passport or an original birth certificate, in person when registering to vote and anytime they update their voter registration. Many of us in Thurston County would be impacted by this law at some point in our lives. For example, military voters would be required to present documentation every time they re-register to vote when their family moves. Married women who have changed their name would also be required to secure updated documentation to register to vote. Under the so-called SAVE Act, voters must show citizenship documentation every time they register, including after a move. Call your U.S. Senators, Patty Murray at 202-224-2621 and Maria Cantwell at 202-224-3441, and your U.S. Representative, Marilyn Strickland at 202-225-9740. Annie Cubberly, on behalf of the Leadership Team of the League of Women Voters of Thurston County Late summer of 2021, with some gentle nudging, the City of Olympia did put in a painted and signed crosswalk at the intersection of Amhurst and Morse-Merryman. With Margaret McKenny Elementary School and LBA Park just down Amhurst a bit, there is a real need. There are lots of crossing pedestrians. Thanks, City of Olympia. One more request? Recently on 22nd and on North Street, the City has installed electronic speed indicators. On Morse-Merryman, drivers often use the 35 mph to be the minimum! We would like speed indicators on Morse-Merryman too. Back in 2021, we were told essentially 'You can't always get what you want' regarding electronic speed indicators. We would love the traffic to slow down. We believe 'that it doesn't hurt to ask' again. Thanks. Paul and Janice Woolson, Olympia
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
More than just words behind 'where the lakes begin' in Kandiyohi County
Apr. 9---- Kandiyohi County erected its first billboards proclaiming itself as "where the lakes begin" in 1990. It's one thing to erect billboards. It takes a whole lot more to protect the waters that everyone loves and to instill an appreciation for natural resources. Protecting the county's natural resources was the focus for an April 3 "hot topics" event hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Willmar Area. Speakers with the , , and the initiative in Willmar made clear just how important those resources are — and what's being done to protect them and educate people about them. As the billboards make obvious, water quality is central to it all. There are 361 lakes, or water bodies of more than 10 acres — including 98,135 acres of wetlands — in the county, according to a 1968 Inventory of Minnesota Lakes by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and information from the Kandiyohi Soil and Water Conservation District. There are four watersheds in the county, including Hawk Creek, Chippewa River and the north and south forks of the Little Crow River. includes 551,680 acres of land, with 455,854 of those acres in agricultural use. Helping landowners protect and improve their lands is central to what the Kandiyohi Soil and Water Conservation District is all about, according to Brittany Lenzmeier and Ellie Faber, staff members with the local office, and the source for those figures. "The programs that we have are designed for landowners in Kandiyohi County," said Faber in explaining the local focus of the Kandiyohi SWCD. Established as a result of the Dust Bowl years, soil and water conservation districts were organized to reduce soil erosion. The Kandiyohi Soil and Water Conservation District was organized in 1954. The Kandiyohi Soil and Water Conservation District has long been known for helping plant windbreaks to reduce wind erosion, and the program remains important. "We do quite a few of these every year, and we're always happy to do them," said Faber, who works directly with the tree program. But the Kandiyohi Soil and Water Conservation District's work is also much more varied, and ranges from helping landowners install best management practices on the land to assisting with efforts to reduce erosion along waterways. The speakers cited examples of helping with projects ranging from stormwater collection at the Kandiyohi County Fairgrounds to planting native vegetation along the shoreline in County Park 1 on Big Kandiyohi Lake. Introducing people to the beauty and wonders of the county's natural resources and learning about them has been the work of the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center since its start more than 30 years ago. Its small staff hosts about 20,000 visitors every year, many of them students, according to Jennifer Swenson, the center's director. A 30-second walk from her office puts her on the highest point of the center's grounds in rural Spicer and offers her a view encompassing Lake Florida and the woodlands, prairie and wetlands that are all part of the 560-acre property. "I say better than Mount Tom," said Swenson of the inspiring view. Her cherished hilltop is also within footsteps of the newly opened early childhood nature school at Prairie Woods. There's lots of research showing the benefits of nature-based education for children as well as their families, according to the school's director, Hannah Stelley. The school is really an extension of what Prairie Woods has always been doing, providing outdoor opportunities and education, Swenson noted. As a center for outdoor education, it will again be the site for the county's celebration of Earth Day with events from noon to 4 p.m. on April 12. Willmar Director of Community Growth Pablo Obregon was in the second week of his new job when "three wonderful ladies walk into my office and said 'we need to meet and have a conversation about Earth Day,'" Obregon said. The city has long supported the Earth Day celebration at Prairie Woods, and it certainly does not want to compete with Prairie Woods, according to Karen Kraemer, who was among the three visitors to Obregon's office. Kraemer said she and others believe it is essential to offer a community eco-fair to promote environmental stewardship in the community. They launched it one year ago. The first-ever hosted in partnership with the Kandiyohi County Area Family YMCA, attracted a large crowd of nearly 600 people. The event is happening for a second year, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Willmar Civic Center on April 26. The YMCA will host its free Kids Color Run beginning at 11 a.m. on the Civic Center grounds and will award free T-shirts to the first 200 people in attendance. The event will also feature a presentation at 1 p.m. by J. Drake Hamilton, Fresh Energy's managing director of science policy, on "Climate Actions We Should Take." Fresh Energy is a nonprofit working toward transition to clean energy in the Midwest. A local power and utilities panel will present at 11:40 a.m. Saturday. Obregon said the event is an opportunity to provide education, connect people to resources, and to promote engagement and action on behalf of the community. It's a great opportunity for those new to the community to learn about the resources available, he added. Most of all, "it was a lot of fun," said Kraemer of last year's event. She promises the same for this year's return. As for those billboards promoting the county's lake-based tourism, and the value of clean water, consider this: Tourism generated more than $84 million in sales and provided 1,569 private sector jobs in Kandiyohi County in 2020, according to Explore Minnesota.
Chicago Tribune
17-03-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Lake Bluff District 65 school board candidates discuss district's future at forum
With the April 1 municipal election approaching, most of the Lake Bluff School District 65 board candidates answered some questions at a recent forum regarding the district's future. The March 9 session was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff. Five candidates are vying for the four, four-year terms that expire this year on the seven-member board. Incumbents Lauren Hirsh, Tim Penich, and Carrie Steinbach appeared on the panel with Andrew Carlson, who is seeking to join the school board. The fifth candidate, Kimberly Bourne Saccaro, was absent as she was called away unexpectedly, according to League President Carol Russ. The session took a little over an hour with the candidates taking questions from the audience on subjects pertaining to the two-school district. With the Lake Bluff Elementary School receiving an exemplary designation in last year's Illinois Report Card and Lake Bluff Middle School getting a commendable grade, candidates took on the subject of ensuring the highest quality learning environment inside District 65. 'We have high expectations for quality education in this community,' Penich said. 'While we do have high-performing schools, I feel there is still growth to be done.' He added it was important to support the work of the administration and the teachers, but the school board needs to monitor the progress. Steinbach stated the board has a financial responsibility the schools are in the 'top tier.' 'I believe we need equity, but we also need proficiency,' she said. 'It's our job to make changes if we see our children are failing or falling between the cracks.' Regarding taxes, all four candidates did not believe a property tax hike was necessary at this time. (District 65 represents roughly 40 % of the overall Lake Bluff property tax bill, according to Director of Finance and Operations Jay Kahn.) While federal funds only represent about 1.5 % of the overall school district revenues, the candidates cautioned the district may have to look to grants or other sources of income if the federal money is removed given the uncertain future of the U.S. Department of Education. The candidates were also asked about the keys to teacher recruitment and retention. Carlson said a key to teacher retention is fostering an environment of respect. 'Letting teachers know they do have a certain degree of autonomy in their classrooms,' he said. 'Allowing teachers to use that creativity that they have learned throughout their years of education themselves to really promote individuality.' Hirsh said the teacher's voice is very important. 'We want teachers who want to be in our classrooms,' she said. 'If you have a teacher who loves what they are doing it is obvious and the kids recognize it.' The candidates all spoke about the possible use of artificial intelligence (AI) at the schools. 'AI is amazing but there is a lot to learn about it,' Hirsh said. 'I am sure teachers will use it but we need to make sure it is something that we are fully aware of the range of it before we put it in front of the kids.' Penich said the administration would have to take the first look and the board would rely on their recommendations. 'I think it would be important to learn and listen to the administration to see if they feel a policy regarding AI usage would be useful either now or in the future that could guide what is in our classrooms and what teachers are able to do,' he said. Steinbach said she uses AI at home with her children. She added some teachers have found it to be useful in their daily planning. Yet she offered some caution. 'I, 100 % think that needs to be monitored,' Steinbach noted. 'It can be viewed as extremely helpful but it can be viewed as a very divisive thing in the classroom.' Carlson offered a similar sentiment. 'Like any technology, AI should be used to supplement our education, not replace it,' he said. 'It is not going to replace those in-person student/teacher relationships that I think is the foundation for the educational experience.' Incumbent Richard Driver, who was appointed to the school board last year to fill a vacancy on the board, is running unopposed to fill out the remaining two years of that term. He did not appear on the panel. Hirsh, Penich, Steinbach, and Driver are running with the endorsement of Vote Lake Bluff, the village's version of a caucus. Bourne Saccaro and Carlson started their candidacy after the Vote Lake Bluff Town Meeting late last year and thus would not be eligible for the organization's endorsement, according to the president Paul Blahunka.
