In one of the local Kansas City area school districts, a proposed levy increase that would have put an end to three years of major budget cuts failed, and so the cuts continue even as enrollment rises. In Wisconsin and elsewhere, cuts are driven not so much by the economy but by union-busting politicians. Elsewhere in the US, teacher layoffs are being announced. ‘Tis the season . . .

And yet, despite all this, the teachers still teach.

I am so grateful for those who taught me, and even today I am still realizing just how much of a gift they gave me.

If ever a town earned the right to perpetual panic, New Orleans is it. The people of New Orleans face the economic and environmental consequences of the BP oil spill before they’ve fully recovered from Katrina. I’ve been spending a good amount of time in New Orleans lately, and panic is the last thing on [...]

When Robin De Haven saw a small plane heading for a building in Austin, he sprang to action. The Army veteran was on his way to replace windows on his job when he changed course and helped rescue five people from the burning building. Dehaven joins the ranks of other Union Member Heroes who answer the call of duty when disaster strikes, including Captain Sully and the crew of the Maersk Alabama.

Slinkerwink of FDL Action and DailyKos is hosting a phone bank in Austin this afternoon to stand up for choice in the health care bill. She’s a fellow Austinite, so I paid her a visit. Says Slink: I’m running this phonebanking event because I want to make sure that the Stupak language isn’t in the [...]