Lane County, OR, commissioners withdraw their support for an ordinance that would have allowed them to pre-emptively veto some local ballot initiatives. Lane County residents…
The Bradford Era: Highland Township commission OKs putting charter on ballot
The Highland Township, PA, Home Rule Study Commission votes to advance a rights-based charter for the November ballot. The charter includes a frack wastewater injection…

America’s Workforce Radio Interviewing CELDF’s Tish O’Dell on Community and Worker Rights
CELDF's Tish O'Dell speaks on America's Work Force Radio on community and worker rights, minimum wage, and the right of local community self-government.
The Register-Guard: Lane County process for approving local ballot initiatives draws two threats of lawsuits
Increasingly contentious and obscure means to keep Lane County, OR, Community Bills of Rights ordinances off the ballot are being used by opponents. Lane residents…

Desmog Blog: Ohio Residents Clash With State and County Government in Fight to Ban Fracking via the Ballot
The right to local democratic self-governance becomes a political debate as Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, county boards of elections, and the oil and…
Press Release: Ohio Secretary of State Sides with Oil/Gas Industry Again Over Community Rights
Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted demonstrates his loyalty to the oil and gas industry by trying to block citizen initiatives. The initiatives propose county…
The Bradford Era: Highland Twp. residents want to recreate controversial ‘bill of rights’
Highland Township, PA, residents turn to themselves to protect against unwanted fracking wastewater. Township Supervisors rescinded a Community Bill of Rights banning an injection well.…
Record Courier: LTE: Husted in conflict on county charter issue
A Portage County resident applauds the advancing a county charter proposal that would ban frack injection wells, and calls out Ohio Secretary of State Jon…
The Bradford Era: Case closed: Seneca Resources can move forward with Highland Twp. injection well
Highland Township, PA, supervisors folded to Seneca Resources, rescinding the people's Community Bill of Rights ordinance protecting them from Seneca's proposed wastewater injection well. Residents…

Oregon Secretary of State Forces State Amendment into Court
Communities work to advance their right to local community self-government through the Oregon Community Rights Network, submitting a petition for a state constitutional amendment protecting…

Tacoma Residents Refuse to Fold as Court Strikes Against Democracy
Tacomans refuse to surrender their rights as the court denies them access to initiative. Residents are working to protect their water - and their right…

Ohioans Take a Stand for Rights
Undaunted by the courts, the state legislature, or the oil and gas industry, Ohioans understand the power to protect themselves is in We, the People,…
Press Release: Democracy Ruled Dead in Highland Township
Highland Township Supervisors overturn their rights-based fracking wastewater injection well ban. They file a consent decree to allow an injection well, and receive approval by…

Press Release: Grant Township Wins Key Motions in Fight for Civil and Environmental Rights
Grant Township, PA, residents and the Little Mahoning Watershed secure wins in motions filed recently by CELDF. Residents are fighting for their rights against PGE…
The Gazette: Backers of Medina County charter suing Secretary of State Husted
Medina County, OH, residents take the Ohio Secretary of State and their Board of Elections to court. Government officials are attempting to block residents from…

Press Release: Secretary of State & Medina County Block Community’s Right to Vote
Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted blocks Medina County residents from voting on their own County Charter initiative. Residents are filing with the Ohio Supreme…
Law and Disorder Radio: Civil Disobedience Ordinance and Home Rule In Grant Township, PA
CELDF's Chad Nicholson and Grant Township resident Stacy Long are interviewed on Law and Disorder radio. Grant residents adopted an ordinance legalizing civil disobedience to…

Cleveland.com: Keeping workers in poverty is neither just nor moral
From the Ohio Community Rights Network, Tish O'Dell takes a stand for increasing minimum wage to lift workers out of poverty, calling for the Cleveland…
The Athens Messenger: Husted opens charter dispute to outside parties
Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted - an oil and gas industry ally - will decide whether or not to place three rights-based county charter…
Press Release: Ohio Secretary of State Husted Tries to Quash Democracy – Again

Fusion: This environmental nightmare is ‘raping’ towns, and citizens have one last chance to stop it
As fracking sweeps the nation, communities are using local initiatives to protect themselves - while industry spews propaganda and spends huge sums to stop them.