A judge told Tennessee officials on Monday to stop enforcing new rules that have been used to arrest dozens of Occupy protesters in Nashville.
The decision was a victory for the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, which sought a temporary restraining order to block a curfew put in place last week, citing the people’s right to peaceful assembly.
U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger issued the order and scheduled a formal hearing for November 21.
The Broadway show SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark announced the second honoree of their “Everyday Heroes” initiative: a high school English teacher, Jacqueline Morelli of Putnam Valley, New York. The “Everyday Heroes” program seeks to shine the spotlight on people who embody heroism in their daily lives and reward them with a little Broadway glitz and glamor.
Jacqueline Morelli has been teaching English for 16 years, nine of which in a special education collaborative class at Horace Greeley High School. In his nomination submission on her behalf, Ms. Morelli’s friend and colleague Frank Ceruzzi described her as “the kindest and most inspiring teacher I have ever met.”
The Broadway show SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark announced the second honoree of their “Everyday Heroes” initiative: a high school English teacher, Jacqueline Morelli of Putnam Valley, New York. The “Everyday Heroes” program seeks to shine the spotlight on people who embody heroism in their daily lives and reward them with a little Broadway glitz and glamor.
Jacqueline Morelli has been teaching English for 16 years, nine of which in a special education collaborative class at Horace Greeley High School. In his nomination submission on her behalf, Ms. Morelli’s friend and colleague Frank Ceruzzi described her as “the kindest and most inspiring teacher I have ever met.”
In the biggest victory for consumers since the recent Netflix mea culpa, Bank of America said today that it was abandoning its plan to charge customers a $5 fee every time they use their debit cards.
The reversal, which came just a month after announcing the new fee, follows a huge backlash from customers.
The bank relented, but only after other large banks had indicated that they would not impose similar fees. Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, SunTrust and Regions Financial have all pulled back on their plans.
For his herculean efforts to reopen schools buildings after five were destroyed by a May 22 tornado, Superintendent C.J. Huff has been honored as one of the top 2011 Heroes Among Us by People magazine.
Huff joins five other winners to be featured in the Nov. 7 issue.
Others include a judge who started a program for troubled youths, a man who rescues greyhounds and a group of strangers who rescued a college student from a burning vehicle.
Ever since the beginning of October when it looked like the U.S. might plunge back into recession and Greece might take down the Euro Zone, a steady drizzle of encouraging news urged investors to buy, and buy again. Dow stocks soared almost 10% in October, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq surging even further.
The nearly uninterrupted four-week rally led the Dow to its best monthly performance since October 2002, while the S&P 500 climbed to their highest point in 20 years.
Ever since the beginning of October when it looked like the U.S. might plunge back into recession and Greece might take down the Euro Zone, a steady drizzle of encouraging news urged investors to buy, and buy again. Dow stocks soared almost 10% in October, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq surging even further.
The nearly uninterrupted four-week rally led the Dow to its best monthly performance since October 2002, while the S&P 500 climbed to their highest point in 20 years.
Eight years after surviving an explosion as a teenage soldier in Iraq, Army corporal J.R. Martinez can’t stop smiling as he captures the hearts of millions on Dancing With The Stars.
Although his extensive facial scars are a reminder of the near-death bombing in 2003, he long ago learned how to handle those who are taken aback by his appearance.
He breaks the ice with a heavy dose of his infectious smile and optimistic personality.
“Within 30 seconds of meeting him” says his girlfriend Diana Gonzalez-Jones, “people fall in love.”
Eight years after surviving an explosion as a teenage soldier in Iraq, Army corporal J.R. Martinez can’t stop smiling as he captures the hearts of millions on Dancing With The Stars.
Although his extensive facial scars are a reminder of the near-death bombing in 2003, he long ago learned how to handle those who are taken aback by his appearance.
He breaks the ice with a heavy dose of his infectious smile and optimistic personality.
“Within 30 seconds of meeting him” says his girlfriend Diana Gonzalez-Jones, “people fall in love.”
A prominent physicist and skeptic of global warming spent two years trying to find out if mainstream climate scientists were wrong. In the end, he determined they were right: Temperatures really are rising rapidly.
What’s more, the study was partially bankrolled by one of the global-warming-denying Koch Brothers, in response to hacked emails from climate scientists, which he believed were conspiratorial.
A reformed skinhead, Bryon Widner was desperate to rid himself of the racist tattoos that covered his face — so desperate that he turned to former enemies for help, and was willing to endure months of pain.
He also turned to T.J. Leyden, a former neo-Nazi skinhead Marine who had famously left the movement in 1996, and has promoted tolerance ever since. More than anyone else, Leyden understood the revulsion and self-condemnation that Widner was going through. And the danger.
(READ the AP story in Google News)
Even the police stepped up to the challenge issued by London, Ontario to perform 1000 acts of kindness as a community this October. With just 2 days left, the third annual kindness challenge, issued by the London Urban Services Organization, has likely broken all city records for good deeds.
Since the fall of 2009, Londoners have been asked to do something nice for someone during the month, and post the results to a tallied blog. Reading about the gestures of generosity posted by citizens in their own words, will elicit warm, fuzzy feelings in even the stodgiest curmudgeon.
For its part, the London Police Service, with the financial backing of Scotiabank, gave away 540 small teddy bears — dubbed Hero Bears and dressed in patrol or tactical uniforms —to unsuspecting community members to bring smiles to people’s faces. Last year the police participated in the kindness challenge by collecting food bank donations and buying coffee for citizens.
The Regional HIV/AIDS Connection also joined the fun, surprising 500 lucky passers-by with free coffee and treats recently.
84 schools in the Thames Valley School District signed on to encourage courtesy this year, with the goal of tracking 100,000 kindnesses in October.
At Evelyn Harris Public School, students and staff members are posing as ‘smile trackers’ to document acts of kindness shown in the schoolyard, in the hallways and in classrooms.
As of Friday Oct. 21, Northridge Public School had completed 1064 acts of kindness. “My colleagues have been amazing at motivating the students, including using announcements each morning.” said a teacher at the school, Mrs. Neelam Sainani.
The Challenge, started by LUSO’s Meredith Fraser, sprang as a response to a series of hate-motivated incidents that targeted community members in London during the fall of 2009.
Community members can register at www.1000acts.ca and submit their acts of kindness. Read the list of kindnesses here.
WATCH the video below, produced by 1000acts.ca
Even the police stepped up to the challenge issued by London, Ontario to perform 1000 acts of kindness as a community this October. With just 2 days left, the third annual kindness challenge, issued by the London Urban Services Organization, has likely broken all city records for good deeds.
Since the fall of 2009, Londoners have been asked to do something nice for someone during the month, and post the results to a tallied blog. Reading about the gestures of generosity posted by citizens in their own words, will elicit warm, fuzzy feelings in even the stodgiest curmudgeon.
In an Afghan capital scarred by years of war, a young Afghan woman has bet $1 million that her countrymen could use a little fun.
Located just down the street from Kabul’s glitziest mall, is The Strikers, the country’s first bowling alley and owner Meena Rahmani’s gamble on the capital’s newest entertainment venue. But more than a place for family fun in a city largely devoid of options, the 12-lane center stands as a reflection of the country’s hope.
In Tunisia, following the first free election after the overthrow of the former dictatorship, the Islamist Ennahda Party that won 40 percent of the seats announced it would form a coalition government with one of the secular progressive parties.
The leader of the party sounded like Thomas Jefferson when he declared: “We will continue this revolution to realize its aims of a Free Tunisia, independent, developing and prosperous in which the rights of God, women, men, the religious and the non-religious are assured because Tunisia is for everyone.”
Gun crime in Scotland has fallen to a 32-year low, according to the latest official figures. The total number of offenses involving firearms recorded by police across Scotland decreased by 28 percent since over last year.
From ‘burned out’ to bright lights, baseballs’ newest champion is being called a local boy-turned-hero.
“I’m trying to soak this all in,” David Freese said, after being named the MVP of the World Series for his performance with the St. Lewis Cardinals in their come-from-behind victory over the Texas Rangers in the seven game series.
It’s a surprise that Freese, 28, even arrived at this point. Burned out from playing baseball, he quit the game during his senior season in high school and didn’t take a baseball scholarship.
A metal foundry in South Pittsburg, Tennessee has invested in advanced technology and acquired management techniques to insure its success as the last company in the nation still turning out cast iron skillets on a daily basis.
But Lodge Cast Iron is also benefiting from a cast iron renaissance.
This all adds up to a successful fourth-generation family-owned business that’s been churning out cast iron cookware for more than a century. (To watch the video, jump to the bottom)
A metal foundry in South Pittsburg, Tennessee has invested in advanced technology and acquired management techniques to insure its success as the last company in the nation still turning out cast iron skillets on a daily basis.
But Lodge Cast Iron is also benefiting from a cast iron renaissance.
This all adds up to a successful fourth-generation family-owned business that’s been churning out cast iron cookware for more than a century. (To watch the video, jump to the bottom)
California inmates are helping correct the behavior problems of shelter dogs, a therapeutic exercise that benefits both convicts and canines.
Dogs described as having “limited adoption potential” are matched with minimum-security inmates through the Humane Society’s TAILS program (Transitioning Animals Into Loving Situations).
In two years the program has graduated 30 dogs and 50-some inmates from the program.
